i hate my body

i USED to hate my body*

2 years ago i would have never posted this photo😳old me would have said, "ur fat is hanging out, your boobs look weird, ur chin look dumb, your scars are showing." but 2 life changing things happened that made me have a new perspective on body aesthetic:

1) moving to hawai'i 🏝️

2) becoming a mother 👩🏽‍🍼

moving to hawai'i:

hawai'i is such a beautiful place as everyone knows, but u also have to realize and bring light to the fact that hawaii is so much more than a tourism state. so many people stereotype hawai'i as a get away and paradise but u have to remember this is home for so many people. u are GUESTS in their home. so when u come to hawai'i respect her people bc one thing about here is if u give aloha, you will receive aloha back🩷 i say this bc one thing ive realized about locals here or people who have lived here for a long time is that they dont care how u look, they are more concerned with the matters of the heart. and for so long growing up i prioritized "looking good" rather than "being good." i'm not saying im a bad person, but i truly felt less worthy bc my body never fit the mold.

as i've lived here in hawai'i tho, the body positivity culture is so warm, so welcoming, so filled with aloha and i can't be more grateful for shedding a new light on my body. local hawai'i brands do such an amazing job at representing and including all body types and it makes me so happy bc as my daughter grows up, i can only hope that we keep this same energy👏🏽the second picture is a local brand here in hawaii (female owned i might add🤘🏽) called Lexbreezy. i've loved her aloha attire and designs soooo much but above all else, her inclusivity for all sizes and shapes. third picture is 2bedesired focusing more on aloha swim wear and other clothes as well. if u have a chance, definitely take a look these two brands are top tier here in hawaii🫱🏾‍🫲🏽 (these a just a few brands, there are soooo many more smaller local businesses as well🩷)

becoming a mother:

i was blessed beyond measure with an amazing pregnancy and postpartum journey. i was terrified that i was going to get postpartum depression but honestly i think i dodged the bullet somehow bc i truly appreciate and am in awe that my body was capable of making my daughter. after i gave birth naturally (accidentally lmao) i had such a new perspective on my body ans it has changed it for the better. rather than making my appearance a priority, i've begun to prioritize and celebrate my body's agility and resilience above all else. and in doing that, i've found a different and much deeper love for my body that goes far beyond surface level

But i am very proud of myself bc i remember there were days before that i wish i could have anyone else's body but my own, but now i am so grateful for the body that i have been given🩷

#lemon8diarychallenge