Fom the time you're old enough to speak, you're constantly told about the Do's and Don'ts of being a female. It's almost like you're born with a Rulebook! So, that is the first rule I am going to tell you to follow and probably the only one that you should: BE YOURSELF.
In a world of manuals, I am going to tell you to discard the manuals handed down to you and write your own. Be unapologetically you. Break those glass walls and ceilings, don your comfortable attire and fly into the best version of yourself you can be. Break those shackles of societal expectations, turn a deaf ear to the critics telling you to be someone you are not, smile at those laughing at you and wear your identity like the best designer clothes in the world- with pride and joy.
So, I have a story to narrate.
A story of a girl who could be any of us. A story of a girl who has multiple facets, so many that you'd lose count.On the surface, she has a story that's not unlike many others. Struggles, success, etcetera etcetera. Beneath it all lies the mystery, a world of its own.
She wasn't born the prettiest or the smartest or the "est" anything. She grew up believing she was quite ordinary. No acclamations were accorded to her. Marred by societal expectations and insecurities, she struggled to find her ground. On shifting sands she stood, ready to hold anyone who needed a hand. She was someone who needed to spend hours in front of the mirror, not to do makeup, not even to admire her fine form, but to look herself in the eye and convince herself that she's strong. She needed to do that repeatedly. She needed her own confirmation that she's her own Superhero.
She was a fool, at worst, expecting love when there was none forthcoming. She still held onto the hope that somewhere someone would fling a piece of love like you'd toss food at a street dog. And she'd hold onto any little affection that came her way like a kid at a candy store. It was for these little moments that she lived.
She wasn't easy to love, needing extra care and affection. She required a constant reaffirmation of the fact that she was lovable. She distanced herself when someone got too close yet hoping that they'd work around her inhibitions to assure her that she'd never have to go through it all alone. It wasn't games that she played. It was a part of her emotional immune system.
She was constantly on the edge of a precipice. An off hand comment or a well targeted one could fling her down. It would take her hours, even weeks, to crawl up but she'd do it. Bruised and battered, she'd be back up there ready to be flung down.
One fine day,almost miraculously, she realised that she had to be her own cheering squad, her own fan club, her own motivator and her own superhero.
I am not saying it happened overnight. It was a long process. But it all started with a sudden realisation that she did not require the approval of others, just her own. A little spark of realization that kindled the fire of revolution.
What a revolution!
She believed that she was strong and beautiful. She made others believe in their strength and beauty too. Every morning, she woke up with a big smile and said to herself, "Let us spread some more positivity today". She gave herself the love she used to crave and gave it to others too. She still fell down but now, she had the courage to get back up, dust off and keep walking. She still had moments of insecurities but she knew how to better deal with them. She still shed tears and once her heart felt light, she worked on what made her cry.
Earlier when she looked into the mirror, she saw the aunt she was told she resembled or the parent she was most like. Now, she saw herself, not a perfect version of herself but she saw the flaws that were as much a part of her as her strengths. She began to love every aspect of herself. She was in no way perfect but perfectly at peace with herself. She grew beautiful by the day, or so they said. I know she was always beautiful, they did not see it.
She became her own cheer squad, her own fan club, her own motivator and her own superhero.
This is Her Story, a story of discovering herself and being at peace with who she discovered. This is the story of the journey to self love.
Who, you ask, is the villain of the story?
Contrary to the consensus, it is not our male counterparts that are the villain. The villain is the thought that says, "You are not enough", your insecurities that shout, "You cannot do it", the societal expectations that try to put you into boxes.
Let us use the boxes,that society is trying to fit us in, to stand on and proclaim to the world that we are all beautiful and strong and courageous. Let us use those restraining hands to reach out to those that need our aid.
So, I invoke all of you beautiful females out there, don't be afraid to find yourself. Do not hesitate to embark on this wonderful journey. The journey may be filled with obstacles, but the destination will be beautiful, my friend. Discover your true self before you lose her in the debris of who you should be. Deep down, in every one of us lies the person we truly are. Go on that adventure, excavate your real identity.
A woman should be one thing :Herself.
In a world of manuals, I am going to tell you to discard the manuals handed down to you and write your own. Be unapologetically you. Break those glass walls and ceilings, don your comfortable attire and fly into the best version of yourself you can be. Break those shackles of societal expectations, turn a deaf ear to the critics telling you to be someone you are not, smile at those laughing at you and wear your identity like the best designer clothes in the world- with pride and joy.
So, I have a story to narrate.
A story of a girl who could be any of us. A story of a girl who has multiple facets, so many that you'd lose count.On the surface, she has a story that's not unlike many others. Struggles, success, etcetera etcetera. Beneath it all lies the mystery, a world of its own.
She wasn't born the prettiest or the smartest or the "est" anything. She grew up believing she was quite ordinary. No acclamations were accorded to her. Marred by societal expectations and insecurities, she struggled to find her ground. On shifting sands she stood, ready to hold anyone who needed a hand. She was someone who needed to spend hours in front of the mirror, not to do makeup, not even to admire her fine form, but to look herself in the eye and convince herself that she's strong. She needed to do that repeatedly. She needed her own confirmation that she's her own Superhero.
She was a fool, at worst, expecting love when there was none forthcoming. She still held onto the hope that somewhere someone would fling a piece of love like you'd toss food at a street dog. And she'd hold onto any little affection that came her way like a kid at a candy store. It was for these little moments that she lived.
She wasn't easy to love, needing extra care and affection. She required a constant reaffirmation of the fact that she was lovable. She distanced herself when someone got too close yet hoping that they'd work around her inhibitions to assure her that she'd never have to go through it all alone. It wasn't games that she played. It was a part of her emotional immune system.
She was constantly on the edge of a precipice. An off hand comment or a well targeted one could fling her down. It would take her hours, even weeks, to crawl up but she'd do it. Bruised and battered, she'd be back up there ready to be flung down.
One fine day,almost miraculously, she realised that she had to be her own cheering squad, her own fan club, her own motivator and her own superhero.
I am not saying it happened overnight. It was a long process. But it all started with a sudden realisation that she did not require the approval of others, just her own. A little spark of realization that kindled the fire of revolution.
What a revolution!
She believed that she was strong and beautiful. She made others believe in their strength and beauty too. Every morning, she woke up with a big smile and said to herself, "Let us spread some more positivity today". She gave herself the love she used to crave and gave it to others too. She still fell down but now, she had the courage to get back up, dust off and keep walking. She still had moments of insecurities but she knew how to better deal with them. She still shed tears and once her heart felt light, she worked on what made her cry.
Earlier when she looked into the mirror, she saw the aunt she was told she resembled or the parent she was most like. Now, she saw herself, not a perfect version of herself but she saw the flaws that were as much a part of her as her strengths. She began to love every aspect of herself. She was in no way perfect but perfectly at peace with herself. She grew beautiful by the day, or so they said. I know she was always beautiful, they did not see it.
She became her own cheer squad, her own fan club, her own motivator and her own superhero.
This is Her Story, a story of discovering herself and being at peace with who she discovered. This is the story of the journey to self love.
Who, you ask, is the villain of the story?
Contrary to the consensus, it is not our male counterparts that are the villain. The villain is the thought that says, "You are not enough", your insecurities that shout, "You cannot do it", the societal expectations that try to put you into boxes.
Let us use the boxes,that society is trying to fit us in, to stand on and proclaim to the world that we are all beautiful and strong and courageous. Let us use those restraining hands to reach out to those that need our aid.
So, I invoke all of you beautiful females out there, don't be afraid to find yourself. Do not hesitate to embark on this wonderful journey. The journey may be filled with obstacles, but the destination will be beautiful, my friend. Discover your true self before you lose her in the debris of who you should be. Deep down, in every one of us lies the person we truly are. Go on that adventure, excavate your real identity.
A woman should be one thing :Herself.
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