with letting people just be how they want to be? When, how and why was that ever questioned?! Why should somebody be told that they're too skinny or not skinny enough, that they're too short or too tall, too curvy or not curvy enough, that their style isn't the "norm" or isn't bold/exciting enough or that they are too confident or not confident enough. Give us a break! Everyone is beautiful in their own way and you shouldn't let anyone or anything make you think or feel otherwise. Be who you are and embrace it! Love your body, your style, your individuality, love yourself and do whatever brings a smile to your face, this is your life so live it how you want to.
Okay, so I'm just going to say that this post is in no way organised or structured in anyway but I've been writing as I feel and after all, this post is just about being yourself and embracing it so thats what I'm doing.
So I'll start with a bit about me but in a similar style to Never Have I Ever (because why not!):
Never have I ever been somebody whose oozed confidence,
nor have I ever wanted to be the centre of attention - and if I'm completely honest I hate it, even when people sing happy birthday to me I get anxious haha! And presentations or performances at school or college.... don't get me started on them, I'm one step away from I'm just not a "all eyes on me" person but I'm okay with that, yes other people find it strange but I'm more comfortable that way and I probably will always feel the way I do now (but never say never!). I would however like to have bit more confidence but I'm working on it, slowly but surely.
Never have I ever not worried about what people think of me,
which I know is really stupid but I still do it, and to be perfectly honest I don't know many people who don't. Its probably the top most common thing in the 21st century. But why? When did it become so ingrained in people that feeling self conscious about what others think of us is somehow more important than what we think of ourselves, the more I think about it the sillier it sounds. The likelyhood is most of the people you walk past on a day to day basis you will never, EVER, see again and their probably so concerned with what you might be thinking about them that they don't have time to think about what you're doing or looking like.
Heres something I've really been thinking about and how it actually helps me put things into perspective and feel a little more comfortable:
I always find that if I'm going out to a party, clubbing, whatever and I'm dressed up I won't really think about people I walk past may or may not (but probably not) be thinking. Yes I'll have a slight worry about being either overdressed or underdressed for the occasion but once thats sorted and I'm on my way I won't ever think to myself "ohh I wonder what that persons thinks of me wearing such a fancy outfit", "I wonder if they think I'm strange for being so overdressed", "they must think I look ridiculous" yet if I were wearing that exact same outfit, walking past those exact same people, in that exact same place but knowing that I'm not going to a party they're the very things I would think of so much so that I feel so uncomfortable in my own skin that I would actually like to go home and not come out! But why? The only person who knows what you're doing or where you're going is you. So now whenever I feel like I'm "overdressed" for no particularly reason I always try to think of this and it does actually make me feel a little bit better and bit more confident. Try it!
Never have I ever been the girl whose followed the crowd,
just because its popular or everybody's doing whatever it is doesn't mean you have to?! Remember the cinnamon challenge... I sure do, cinnamon was actually no longer being sold in my local supermarket because of it haha! Crazy! But this definitely applies to me when fashion is involved, yes I like to see whats stylish this season and try out a few new looks I might not normally but If I don't like it I'm not going to wear it and if I like something I'm not going to not wear it just because its not fashionable anymore. Plus, if you know anything about fashion you'll know that 99.9% of the time styles always make a come back so don't throw out your fashion favourites just because the fashion magazines tell you to.
Never have I ever been the girl who cares about what she looks like once she's ready.
Hopefully this makes sense but what I'm trying to say is, is that once I'm ready for whatever the occasion I'm really not that bothered about what may happen to my hair, makeup etc. Yes don't get me wrong I love to dress up and look nice, I love to be glamorous and have my hair all done and my fake eyelashes on but as long as I'm having fun I'm really not that bothered.
Never have I ever been the girl who people expect
I don't know why but a quite a few times (once people have gotten to know me) they've often said their first impression of me was not at all the person I am at all: I've had people on first impressions expect me to be bitchy, cliquey, stuck-up, or the type of girl who freaks out about breaking a nail... I've had people say I'm not what they expected at all and whenever I tell people the things I like to do in my spare time they've always been even more surprised. So heres one of the things people always seem surprised by and it is, I'm animal mad! (But what person doesn't like animals?!) Everything about animals I love, I've done more unpaid work than I have done paid and all has been animal orientated and none of it has been clean or glamorous in any way, shape or form! I've been covered in mud from head to toe more times than I can count, I've had to do everything from bottle feeding lambs and bathing tortoises to holding cockroaches and attempting to give a python a health check which was pretty damn scary. I've been chased and practically tackled by adorable packs of excitable piglets and chased across fields by less friendly animals who were not so excited to see me (mainly llamas and emus, they're never the friendliest). I've lost a fair few nights of sleep caring for various fury friends whether ill or just young and needing food and attention. I've been bitten, scratched, chased but I wouldn't change it for the world. Come rain or shine, the fun I have working with animals is a true passion for me but a few people I've met have been rather shocked when they've found all this out, especially when they've seen me in action.
Example: not to be over confident or cocky in anyway but I have been told that I look quite glamorous (not counting when I'm in joggers, an oversized t-shirt and my bunny slippers, which is most days haha!) so when I went to my volunteer job at my local animal rescue park the day after my winter dance at college, the person I was working with could not believe what I was up to. Our morning routine was cleaning the various duck and chicken houses and feeding them, it was muddy and it was cold but we had a job to do, I started to clean while they went to get food and when they came back, to their surprise, all they could see was green wellies poking out of the very small door, yep thats right! I was on my hands and knees in the duck house (there weren't any ducks inside though so don't worry) but when I emerged, with sawdust in my still curled hair from the night before having thoroughly cleaned and done the task I was given the look on their face was priceless and this is what they said "Out of all the people I've ever worked with I've never known anyone whose been as happy as you have with just getting on with the job and not being afraid to get abit dirty, especially not someone whose looked like you" and this isn't the only comment I've gotten similar to this one but you know what I actually like surprising people and it just goes with the good old saying of "don't judge a book by its cover" which is one of my favourites sayings.
And speaking of favourite sayings heres a few quotes I simply love. They are all very true and really boost my mood if I'm feeling abit down:
“Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
“Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.”
– Malcolm S. Forbes
“I think everybody’s weird. We should all celebrate our individuality and not be embarrassed or ashamed of it.”
– Johnny Depp
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassions, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
– Elizabeth Kubler-Ross
"Introducing the first drop of the #AllGirls crew.
The start of a campaign built on a collective of women that represent female empowerment and celebrate individuality
Watch this space to meet more of our #AllGirl gang
Girls come in all shapes and sizes. Some light up a room and some hide in the shadows. Some are bold and others quietly confident. Some want to look good and some want to feel good. We see you.
boohoo recognises individuality. We embrace it. We are absolutely inclusive of all shapes and sizes, all styles and trends. We make fashion accessible and fun.
boohoo is for girls. All girls."
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