To the rest of the world, who I am is clear: They see a busy law student who gets good grades, attends class and throws her passion into a million extra-mural community things. They see the neat, sophisticated girl wearing a killer red lipstick and carrying a very official briefcase. They see someone who is ready to seize the day and never seems to run out of energy.
What they do not see are the days I cannot get out of bed. The days when even showering is too much of an effort. They do not see the days I fall asleep in class or the anxiety attacks that have me crying in the shower. Those little moments are hidden because the world requires us to be perfect. In our patriarchal society where being a womxn already puts you at a disadvantage, the media tells us there is no room for any mistakes. The media is wrong. And so is society. It is the horrible anxious moments that make us human.
So, take this as a friendly reminder to be kind to yourself. You are the only one in this world who understands you. You know where you have been and where you are going. Breathe. Say no. Listen to your feelings and ask for help. Give yourself a break when you fail or get disappointed. Pat yourself on the back for achieving something (even if it is just getting out of bed to brush your teeth). Love your body – because it is the only one you are going to get. Ignore the size, shape and the imperfections – love her and love who you are, because she is perfect and has gotten you this far in life.
We are womxn. We are surviving discrimination, femicide and stereotypes on a daily basis. We succeed and we fail. We laugh and we cry. We get scared and we break down. But, what makes us stronger than anything society throws at us? The fact that we get up and face life anyway. No one can be perfect all the time. Why not be yourself instead?
With love, a curvy girl with stretch-marks, anxiety and who always forgets to drink water.