Oh the awkward years!!

This week at beginnings we talked about some sensitive subjects. The one that related most to me was body image. As a little kid, I had my own stash of candy hidden in my room. If you think I like sweets now, you obviously never knew me when I was a kid. I never really struggled with body image until about sixth grade. Middle school= the awkward years! For me this was no exception. I had braces, was kind of chubby and wore huge baggy sweatshirts to cover it all. I hated it! I never felt like I fit in and longed so much to feel that sense of belonging. I never realized how I perceived myself until I entered my freshman year of high school. Here I switched schools and knew about two people in my grade and maybe four in the entire school. I wanted to look cute and the first day I planned my outfit out for three days and probably changed ten times! I began to learn how uncomfortable I was with my body. I wanted to wear a two piece swimsuit but never felt comfortable to break away from the tankini. Then I started to row for a local rowing club and started to kick my butt into shape. When you are working out three hours everyday with about three ten minute breaks throughout the whole thing, you get a built body. Rowing works your whole body: legs, back, arms, shoulders, abs. I was happy with myself and confident in a bikini. Then I stopped rowing due to the pressures of school and my teammates. Everything changed, my body wasn't used to not working out all the time. This is where I am at now, while I am happy with myself, I still compare myself to other people. Now more than ever I realize that God made me perfect in his eyes and there is not a single thing that he would change. I am wonderfully made and no one and nothing will change this. I just need to rest in this thought all the time. and of course,
This is me :)