This is a dang PEP TALK today y’all. We deserve it.
I know I write a lot on here about products, clothes, makeup, etc., but one of my biggest passions is taking care of ourselves and each other. The world needs more kindness, more understanding, more cheering each other on. We are hard enough on ourselves; wouldn’t it be refreshing if we could just lean into all of the parts of ourselves and embrace them? Instead of wishing we have what someone else has, or wishing we could look the way someone else looks, what if we just celebrated the fact that we all have something unique to offer, and that we all have different talents to give?
Comparison is something I have struggled with a lot as a woman, an adult, a professional, a wife, and especially now as a mom. I’m honestly just really tired of it. I have been “should”-ing all over myself for as long as I can remember. Does anyone else “should” yourself all day long? “I should have done the dishes,” “I should work out more often,” “I should have gotten more done today,” “I should be doing more creative activities with Davis like all the ‘good’ moms,” it just goes on and on until you find yourself feeling overwhelmed and like you’ll never be able to meet all the demands. And the truth is, they’re mostly demands you’ve put on yourself – so shifting the conversation is important. What you “should” do is what you are capable of, what feels right to you, what you believe in, and what you have the mental space for. What we should ALL do is hype each other up, be there when others fall, and stop assuming anyone else has it better or worse than we do.
Social media can be so toxic for comparing your life to the carefully curated feeds of others. I love following accounts that keep it real and show the good, the bad, and the ugly. I love to know that other people are struggling with the same issues as me, or that no one is actually able to keep their house pristine all of the time, especially with pets and children. Let me promise you that everyone you think is “perfect” is far from it. I have to remind myself of that all the time. We all battle with our own things. Someone with a perfect house might have a difficult marriage. Someone with a great marriage might have a strained family situation or be struggling financially. Someone with a “perfect” body might have disordered eating and struggle with body image. What we see is only a glimpse of what others are allowing to be put out there.
I promise to always keep it real. I am definitely struggling sometimes! As a super Type A person, it has been a FIGHT for me to realize that I simply can’t get everything done with a busy toddler. The dishes, the laundry, the organizing and tidying, things I used to do for myself to feel sane – it all has to wait because Davis comes first. And that’s okay! But it’s something I’ve had to realize and work through as a person who likes to feel “put together.” One of my favorite accounts to follow on instagram is @emily.the.mom.next.door. She is from Asheville like me! She had two babies under two, and then the pandemic came. She has been a really great place of relief for me because her mom content and honesty is always so on point. I’ll share some of my favorite accounts in my stories sometime this week – so many great accounts out there that are relatable for women, uplifting, and just feel real.
Be easy on yourself. Have the constant pep talks with yourself. YOU are beautiful, worthy, and deserving of success and happiness, no matter what season of life or size pants you are in. You are beautifully made and perfect just the way you are, right now. If you have things you want to improve on, that’s great! Join the dang club! But never put yourself down while you’re trying to pull yourself up, because it just won’t work that way. You have just the piece others are looking for to finish their puzzle, whether it’s in life, in love, at work, with your children, or whatever the scenario may be. We only have whatever time we are given on this earth, and I am tired of wading through it thinking I’m not good enough. Who’s with me? There is a whole girl gang out there lifting each other up with confidence and love, and I am here for it. Let’s all pledge membership and be each other’s biggest fans. In the meantime, make sure you’re rooting for yourself, as well.
