or, “Let’s clarify a few things to the readers”, but that’s not as search engine friendly.

When I wrote, “More On Body Image”, I didn’t mean to sound condescending — I love fashion as much as any lady around, and I stand on that until they put me in the ground. However, I also know all too well how easy it is to fall into a neverending cycle of the not-good-enough’s.

Like most women, I have to wear multiple hats, but I can’t be explicitly defined by any one of them, unless I want to forever try to live up to the demands of that hat. Even though I’m engaged, I try hard not to spend time flipping through “dream wedding” catalogs — I don’t have to compete with the Joneses — though I don’t mind having coffee with them!

Unfortunately, our fight for a positive body image begins with the mind, wraps around society, and ends with sisterhood. That’s right, I mentioned the “S” word — sisterhood. We have to stop eyeballing each other in the store and start realizing that hey, the stylish woman I’m envying probably has the same body hangups I do!

The muffin top? Been there. Those after-holiday love handles? Have those too. Does that mean that Mr. Deluxe is supposed to withhold his love for me until I get those suckers off? Absolutely not! Trying to wait wistfully for the “skinny days” just isn’t going to cut it for me, and it shouldn’t cut it for you either.

So let’s start fresh. If you can’t say everyday, “I am a woman of worth, and there is nothing that can change that for me.”, no silk blouse, pleated skirt, or wrap dress is going to change that. Sexiness, like most other perceived attributes (more on that point later), begins with an affirmation of self. You have to feel it.

My own daily struggle is to love myself first. If I can do that, then I don’t have to worry about the fluctuations of other people. They can pick and choose when to love you, how to love you, and whether they should even bother — do you really want to put your future in their hands?

We are all women of worth, just by being born. Some of us will lead their lives in the public eye, others will work in the shadows, making the world a better place. Others will do neither of those things, and simply live their lives as best they can. No matter what category you find yourself relating to, you are still a woman of worth.

If we can take that previous paragraph and make it actually take root in our minds, life will turn for the better. It won’t be about the size 0’s, the why-do-the-guys-love-her-and-not-me’s, the thin == worthy’s, or anything of that sort.

It’s about you. And it’s time to start living — with or without fashion. Fashion is unwieldly — we love it, but we’ll be scurrying off to the next fad in a couple of months. Why not try living with style? True style has no ending, my friends, and it always seems to be en vogue.

Build your style today — but even if you don’t, you are, have, and always will be a woman of worth!

Isabella Murphy, among other things, is a woman of worth. And so are you.

Tags: body image, worthiness, woman of worth