How To: #BeYou

To all of you out there who are reading this, I hope that you are paying very close attention because today's post is an important one! In today's world, we are constantly defined by the number of life experiences we are able to share with our following. I often find myself interrupting quality time with friends and family to think about how I could better sell myself to my audience. There are a million questions that I ask myself before I post anything on social media. "Do I have any blemishes on my face? Do I look too skinny in this picture? How could I pose to look more curvaceous? What will get more likes and followers?" And the list goes on. I don't know how or when this all happened, but it did. So today I want to share with you all something very important: How to #BeYou!

I've partnered with treaclemoon and BulliesOut on the #BeYou Project to encourage members of every age, culture, and community to simply be you! It's easy to fall into the latest trends and pressures of fitting in no matter what setting you find yourself in whether you're a teenager in high school or an adult trying to impress your boss. So take today, this very moment, to identify something that may not exactly be popular, a hobby or interest that others might find a little quirky, maybe something you consider an imperfection, or simply something that is truly you. Now here's the challenge: Post it on your social media using the hashtag #BeYou! Share it with confidence.

I'll go first. I've always had difficulty accepting my body because of how thin I am. I know, I know - people tell me all the time that they would love to have my body or be able to lose weight as easily as I do. But when you find yourself never gaining weight, unable to fit into the smallest sizes at most stores, and constantly having your clothes overwhelm you, it's not so much a luxury as it is a pain. I look around and see so many beautiful thick women with curves, and that's all I want. But today, I am sharing with you all my "imperfection" and owning it with confidence. Confession: I would still like an additional 20 lbs though.

Top: Urban Outfitters (old) | Bottoms: Silence + Noise (old) | Shoes: Steve Madden

So readers, how can you #Be(the happiest version of)You?

For more information on the #BeYou Project, to make a donation, or help in spreading awareness, click on any of the links in this post. If you are directly affected by bullying and need support, you can email a mentor at BulliesOut at mentorsonline (at) bulliesout.com.