The way I see it -
Recently I have gotten some negative feedback on a few of the columns I have written. Now, this column is not going to be dwelling on the fact that I have a few non-fans out there because I have always wanted to be a writer since I was very young, like five or six maybe. I have always been passionate about writing and I have also always entered writing contests and whatnot, and I have actually won a few of them.
So I have this attitude where I understand that with every compliment I receive I am bound to receive an insult because you will never be able to get every single person agree with your opinion. Anyways this column is not about dwelling on the past. This column is about self-acceptance.
I know I am only sixteen but I personally have a high self-acceptance. Meaning I like the way I look, I like the way I think, and I like the person I am. I have not always been this self-accepting because like many other teens my age I had a lot insecurity and had a very horrible self-esteem.
I had a terrible self-esteem problem until the last year or so. I have always hated my weight issues, and I hated myself for a long time. Now I'm being completely honest here with the public because I have that much confidence now that I don't care if there's a few people out there who will read this and be like oh aha she knows she is overweight and she knows she is a loser. I know I have a few extra pounds, but I like those extra pounds because I'm not perfect and not trying to be. Sure I'm not popular, but I do have my few true friends.
See, I accept me for me. I don't hate myself any more, I only embrace myself. I embrace my curves; I embrace all of my flaws. I am tired of trying to "fit in" and I got tired of listening to other people's opinions about me and letting those opinions affect me. I love me, and I care about me. So, why should I let others tell me how I look, or how I feel, or how much I am worth?
If you told me a year ago that I looked terrible and I was not worth anyone's time I would more than likely believe you because my self esteem was at an all time low. I truly believe now that you really do have to hit rock bottom to get to the top. I had to hit rock bottom before I made myself believe I was good enough. This column may make some people hate me but I don't care because this column has helped me emotionally and mentally. Writing is my passion. Some people have volleyball while others have singing and I have writing.
Self-acceptance is something everyone needs to have. You need to accept yourself before others can accept you for you. Trying to be someone your not is a whole lot harder than actually being who you truly are. And trust me, once you realize that you are worthy then you are going to be that much happier.
So many teens in our society have such a low self-esteem problem. First thing you have to do is tell yourself you are worthy and you are a good person. You are beautiful the way you are and you are good enough. You cannot listen to what others say because that will bring you down. Without self-acceptance, you are going to find it hard to live in today's society because teens can be cruel and so can adults.
We have all more than likely witnessed some type of cruelty by now whether it was physical cruelty or it was emotional and mental cruelty which can be rumors, false accusations, and so on.
My main point is that I know I don't have everyone's thumbs up with the things I believe in and the things I write, and It's not that I don't care what the readers think because I do. However, I don't care enough to let negative attitudes bring me down anymore. No one should let people bother him or her enough to bring them down.
Like everyone, I don't like certain people but the difference between me and many others is that I know that everyone has their negatives and everyone has their positives. I do not think it is my place to hold any judgments over anyone if I do not truly know the person. And even when I do know a person truly I still will not hold a terrible judgment over them because, as I said, I understand that everyone has their positives and their negatives.
I just wish other people my age would understand that as well because you know what? Those people who do not understand that yet do not realize that the people they are hating now may be the people they need help from in the future; whether it's because that person is a nurse, or a teacher, or even a police officer... you don't know so I don't think it's fair to hate someone whom you may need help from one day.
As soon as we all realize that, this world will become a better place. However, the first step to it all is self-acceptance. Accept yourself then others will accept you because how can you expect others to accept you when you don't even accept yourself?
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