Comparisons 2

I know that I have written about comparisons in the past but after a conversation with my daughter this week; I feel it needs to be addressed again.

When did women start comparing themselves to others? Men, women, the dog, the cat, their mother, their brother…actresses, singers, models….really makes no difference.

For a decade or longer we’ve been hearing about the dangers of unrealistically thin models, beautiful actresses, and the ever defunct singer, and of course Barbie. Sure, they may have played a hand in girls’ self-esteem issues but what if this need to compare ourselves goes even deeper than the glossy pages of a magazine or the cover of CD?

I don’t know if my mom compared herself to her sisters when she was growing up…I should probably ask her…the same goes for my grandmother and I’m fortunate to be able to ask her still… Unfortunately, I won’t be able to ask any generation older…because I really want to know WHEN did this start happening OR has it always been since the beginning of time?

Can we all agree that we each walk our own path? And as such there is no way I can compare myself to you, or you, or you…and Lord knows, you shouldn't compare yourself to me!

What do we gain by comparing ourselves to another? I know this is a very personal question and very few of us will actually really tell ourselves the truth, anyway but don’t you deserve your own truth?

I don’t have any answers on this situation but I do have some encouragement:

Be you…your authentic you.

Try your best every day because that is enough.

Don’t give up on yourself.

No, you aren't so and so – thank goodness…we don’t need robots!

You are you…you are enough…you are amazing…You are YOU, the good, the bad, the ugly, Thank you for being you!

(dedicated to my daughter - please know you are enough being you)