PowHERhouse Winter 2016 | Page 17

"My fellow women, nothing is ever going to be perfect, and neither do we have to be. So many precious moments slip through the cracks when we get so caught up in striving for the world's expectations that make us way too hard on ourselves.

We all have scars and battle wounds. Some of us are able to hide them better than others, but those scars, the imperfections are a part of what makes us beautiful. It’s what sets us apart and makes us shine!

Never be ashamed of where you came from, what you have overcome or what you are working through."

Carli

It is our job to build each other up. This world is full of people who want to break you down and discourage you from success. We need to stop comparing our bodies, our achievements, our overall lives; none of us amazing women are ever going to be the same, and that is the beauty of it all.

The world's idea of a perfect woman is incredibly distorted and is ruining young girls' perception of what a woman is supposed to be, especially in the West.

These girls depend on us to build them up so that they can grow into the beautiful woman that they were meant to be, not told to be.

When strong women come together and support each other incredible things happen, even if we do not get to experience the positive outcome for ourselves.

If our daughters, grand-daughters, the girl-child are able to grow up feeling loved, safe, proud, brave, beautiful and strong, then we have reached full success.