The clothes don’t matter.
What would you say if I told you the clothes don’t matter, and they never really did? Would you sit at lunch with your gal pals giggling at the thought? What a silly thing for a boutique owner to say! I know, I know… but hear me out.
The clothes don’t matter. In a word that is moving faster than the eye can blink, it can feel like you lose your sense of self and authenticity to the latest trend. We live in a time where the newest “It Girl” look is at our fingertips through our phone. From the “clean girl makeup” takeover to the skinny jean takedown; according to modern mainstream media. Whoever said you need the latest and greatest and influenced you to dive all in… was lying. There is no better you than the you that you currently are.
Even when something isn’t trending, it can still feel like the clothes matter so much more than they really do. Raise your hand if you’ve ever fallen victim to the crime that is poorly fitting jeans. It’s devastating, isn’t it? I would bet my bottom dollar as you jumped up and down trying to squeeze into those jeans that you glared in the mirror and blamed yourself. I know I have.
“Why do my thighs…?”
“If I could lose another five pounds…”
All thoughts I’ve spoken to myself a handful of times…
What if I told you that in the reflection in the mirror, the clothes don’t matter. The reflection staring back at you does. Yes. YOU matter. And you matter the most.
I know I am part of a collective who has sat with their head hung in the bedroom with tears in their eyes wondering why we couldn’t look like or be like ANYONE else. To pick apart what you saw as the ultimate flaws. I won’t sit on a body positivity high horse and try to sell you the idea that I wake up each and every day absolutely in love with myself.
But I’ll tell you what I’ve done to try and get there.
I sit with the thought that I’m made in His image. That I was divinely created and placed on earth to live a life that was intentionally thought out for me. What if I got to the end of this life I was gifted and all I had was contempt for myself based on how I looked? I’d rather live.
It started with being kinder to myself; kinder thoughts. I spent the past year saying GOOD things about myself. I recognized what I could and could not change about myself. God created me a “big” woman by industry standards and I’m throwing away the idea that I should be anything different. How blessed am I to be exactly as I was imagined to be?! And you! This applies to you!
Imagine a day and time where we move at God’s speed, embrace all that life has to offer, and love ourselves so much more.
I hope this reaches the soul who needed to hear it.
You are unique. You are special. You are loved. You are made in His image.
The clothes don’t matter.