Support and Beauty

Here's my thing. We could all do this. We all have either struggled with this at some point in our lives or know someone who has. If you say you haven't, then either you're lying or you haven't been paying close enough attention.

I think its awesome that people can have a way to share their support.

However, why do we only show support with few-day long things like these? Why is depression such a taboo subject to approach? Why do people who deal with depression always feel there is no one to talk to and that they are alone, even when there are millions suffering in the same way?

In America, depression is common. It can come in many forms and it can come from many origins. But it still exists. Many people do not treat their depression. Why? Because it has a taboo. In religion, in family, and in work, no one wants to admit that they struggle with depression. Many times, religion will tell you to just rely on God (which, if you already are, what does that imply to you? That you aren't relying on Him fully enough? The Bible says with faith the size of a mustard seed for a reason, people!). Work tells you to just put on a face because we don't have time to do deal with your issues. And family sometimes just doesn't know what to say, or they are absent.

So what happens? People continue to struggle with depression. Do not tell them just to get over it! They can decide a thousand times a day that they do not want to be depressed any longer. But if they have no support system, it can be almost impossible to pull themselves out of that pit.

If you've never suffered from depression, let me explain how it always felt to me.

Imagine a weight on your chest. A knot in your throat. A lack of energy all the time. An inability to focus. A fear of change. A sinking feeling sucking your entire body down into the earth. You don't want to move. You don't want to work. You can't relax. You get emotional, have panic attacks. Even if you can identify the root cause of your depression, you can't seem to find the strength to fix it. Or you can't get over your fear of doing what you must to fix it.

Like I said, almost impossible to get out of. Fortunately, I have a loving family and friends who were willing to help. They listened to my unfocused, fearful ramblings of what I thought I might need to do, but was unsure and scared of doing for months! They loved on me and told me I was worth so much more than this kind of life. They cut through my rambling and told me what I already knew, but was afraid to admit. And then, when they knew I knew what needed to happen, they physically came and got me.

They have shown me so much love and forgiveness and hope.

Because of them, I have begun a process of keeping myself of getting sucked back down. I have begun to forgive myself and the others that have hurt me either intentionally or unintentionally (which is an everyday, ongoing process). I have begun to hope that my life can be as big as I want it to be.

What's my point? If you know someone struggling with depression, be there for them! Not just a few days of the year, but every single day. Be their friend that can listen without judgment. Be their strong arms that can hold them. Be their open heart that can love on them and tell them that they are wonderful and beautiful and amazing.

And if you struggle yourself, and have found at least one person who will do these things for you, let them. Do NOT let anyone tell you that you are alone or unworthy!!!! I CANNOT stress this enough.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!!
YOU ARE NOT UNWORTHY!!!

I don't care what you have or have not done, please remember that.



Now for a slightly different topic. It still has some similar points. WOMEN! When are we going to stop mutilating our self-worth? When are we going to see ourselves as the beautiful women that we are?

And why did we ever stop?

Think about the other women in your life. Your mom. Your grandma. Your best friend from high school. Your cousin. Your co-worker. What do we call them? Beautiful, pretty, sexy. Anything to boost their self image. Why? Because we love them and care about them.

So why can't we do this to ourselves?

We are our own worst critic. But its because we compare ourselves to others. We look at Martha Stewart and think "my home isn't as organized as that." We hear Christina Aguilera and think "I can't sing like that." We see Beyoncé and mourn that "I can't dance like she can." We have images thrown into our faces every time we go to the store, turn on the tv, and go to the movies of women that we will NEVER look like! (I mean, let's be real, here.)

Here's my big statement. Are you ready?

STOP LETTING HOLLYWOOD LIE TO YOU!

These women? They may be beautiful but the image that is thrown at us and that we so willingly swallow are fake! They already had makeup artists and hair stylists working on them for hours. They have been airbrushed. Its all fake! The music we here is so beyond edited its ridiculous! It takes nothing for the producers to tweak the sound until whoever it is that was singing is perfectly on pitch by the time they release it for all the world to hear.

You are meant to be so much more to the world than just pretty. Your beauty goes further than simply skin deep. Stop beating yourself up so much.

Also, whoever you are reading this, love yourself. If you can learn to be comfortable in your own skin and love and forgive yourself, you can truly be amazing.