The Journey The Journey 2017 - 18 | Page 32

R Zohra Javed 11 D It doesn’t make sense to call ourselves ugly, because we don’t really see ourselves. We don’t watch ourselves sleeping in bed, curled up and silent with chests rising and falling with our own rhythm. We don’t see ourselves reading a book, eyes fluttering and glowing. You don’t see yourself looking at someone with love and care inside your heart. There’s no mirror in your way when you’re laughing and smiling and happiness is leaking out of you. You would know exactly how bright and beautiful you are if you saw yourself in the moments where you are truly yourself. You don’t just magically wake up one day and love yourself. It’s a constant battle against your ‘flaws’ and ‘what- would- they- think’ and I’m- not- good- pretty- smart- funny- global public school enough’. It’s getting yourself out of bed every day and whispering to yourself “you can do it”. Then letting that whisper turn into a solid “I am enough” than singing powerful self-empowering cheesy pop songs at the top of your lungs to the mirror. Then, slowly but surely accepting that you are not perfect, and realizing that you are not perfect, and realizing that you are not meant to be perfect; no one is, and that is okay. And, do you ever realize how much your body loves you? It’s always trying to keep you alive. It’s making sure you breathe while you sleep, stopping cuts from bleeding, fixing broken bones, finding ways to beat the illness that might get you. Your body literally loves you so much. It’s time you start loving it back. 32