body

pretty is not the rent you pay to live in this world. your body is the vessel that holds you. the arms you wish were slimmer are the same arms that allow you to carry heavy objects, lift children into swings. the legs you hate for being short and stumpy are the same legs that let you run through long grass, swim in the ocean, skip and jump and play. the shoulders you think are too broad allow you to carry the heavy bag your mum shouldn't need to carry all the way home. the belly you call fat is protecting your stomach, which holds the food you ate when you were out with friends, the homemade muffins your grandmother baked you and the joy of easter with your family. your hair that you try to pluck is a credit to your ancestors, the harsh climates they endured so that you may live; a reminder of their existence and their toils, a reminder of who you are. the eyes you wish were a bit less squinty, a bit larger, a bit prettier are the combination of your parents' eyes, and their parents' eyes, and their parents' eyes. the hips you wish were rounder will one day allow a child to be brought into this world and the boobs you wish were bigger will one day feed it. your spine carries the weight of the stories of your ancestors and will dictate those of your descendants. you were created from the finest elements, crafted specifically and successfully to life live, give life and give life meaning. yet here you are wishing some guy will think you're hot. don't you dare lessen your worth by placing it carelessly in the hands of those who do not know how you, do not understand you and do not care about you. you were made to live as a human being, not to be admired as a sculpture. don't allow fickle minds to put you on display in their homes only to tear you down when they get sick of you and find another more to their fancy. do not live to be looked upon, do not let them add you to their collection of statues in their house just because you are pretty. pretty. pretty. what a bland and cliche title. who cares if you're pretty if you are cruel, hateful, jealous and shallow? they call you pretty like it matters. they stick you on the wall and leave you there to rot. they decorate their houses with you because of the way you look, but there is so much more to you than aesthetic and you weren't brought into this world to be pretty. you are here to be brave. to be kind. to be honest. to be compassionate. to be passionate. to be smart. to be exquisite. not pretty. pretty is not the rent you pay to exist in this world as a woman.