I Love Myself (And I Don’t Need You To Validate Me)
Here’s to choosing your life and your health and your joys over insignificant situations.
By Naimah Smith
Happiness to me is being so aware of your insecurities, your inner voice, and where you are in life that nothing anyone says bothers you anymore.
“You aren’t good enough” Yes I am.
“You aren’t pretty enough” Yes I am.
“You aren’t talented” Yes I am.
“You’ll never make it in this industry” Yes I will.
No one can tell you shit unless you let it get to you. No one can tear you down unless you let them. So, don’t let them. show them you are the baddest, most important person in the room that it’ll make them regret every fucking with you in the first place.
In saying this, my looks no longer bother me. I used to cower and cringe at photos of myself. Hell, I wouldn’t even take them. I was so insecure and felt so terrible about myself that I didn’t think I was pretty enough to post on my own Instagram or just take random selfies when I felt happy or good about myself.
It’s 2018 and I’m saying no more.
No more to not feeling beautiful enough. No more comparing my looks to others. If we were all the same, and all looked the same it would be boring, and I am most certainly not, boring.
Here’s to the start of a new chapter in your life. Here’s to living without the past and its negative energy holding you down. Here’s to recovery and healing and happiness. Here’s to not letting the little moments pass me by. Here’s to sleepless nights and too much coffee and a room filled with books with creased over edges. Here’s to smiling with friends and family. Here’s to loving the skin you’re in, no matter what shape, size or pigment you are. No matter what scars you hold on both the insides and the outsides of your vessel.
Here’s to choosing your life and your health and your joys over insignificant situations. You are growing into the woman you have been fighting so hard forever since you could talk. This is about you, and only you. This is the first day of the making sure your energy and your passions and your creativity are seen. This is the first day that you are coming into your own as a whole being. This is the first day of the rest of your life. I love you who you are blossoming into, and how you’ve changed.
I love you even when you don’t know I’m here, even when you aren’t looking for me. You are most certainly deserving of love. Yes, yes you are.