The Identity of Me - By Nikki Mann

Dear Body,

Thank you for patiently sticking around for me to fall in love with you. I am proud to be your being. 

Xo

You there, the one reading this. First I want you to do something, SMILE. Smile because you deserve to. 

Now I need you to remind yourself that you are so much more than just a Body, you're a Being and Beauty goes so much deeper than the surface.

For me it was so hard to realize this but the minute I did, my whole life changed. I look at people differently and most importantly I stopped judging people because of their appearance. I see the beauty in everything and everyone that I chose not to see before and it has brought so much more happiness into my world. If you start loving yourself and your body for who you are nothing can stop you. 

After years of hating the way I looked and trying every "diet" there is and never succeeding I'm so glad I found the answer. Self love!! I now live a healthy lifestyle and have lost 25lbs for my self not anyone else. I work out because I love my body, not because I hate it. All you really need is a balanced, healthy lifestyle sprinkled with self love!

I am not only a body and a being. I am a proud Aunty and I've promised myself, my 2 beautiful nieces and 1 nephew that I will forever teach them and the next generation the importance of self love. What Social media portrays as a "healthy" body may not be the body type that you have. We just need to remind ourselves and those around us that healthy looks different on everyBODY. This is so important for us to realize and teach the younger generation. 

We are never satisfied. Always wishing we were thinner, taller, prettier, smarter, bigger, muscular, shorter etc the list could go on forever. However I have realized I am exactly the person I was meant to be, and I promise to embrace my own unique beauty and I hope you do too! As Alessia Cara sings "You should know you're beautiful just the way you are, And you don't have to change a thing, The world could change its heart."

I truly have accepted myself for who I am and love and respect my body. I am living a totally different life, a Healthy life full of adventures and no body issues are going to stop me! Confidence is so beautiful, just remember to be yourself! 

Dear Being,

I'm so proud of you, thank you for finally loving me. Together we can be a flamingo in a frolic of pigeons. Our future looks bright. 

Xo