It might get a little deep in this post, but I’d like you to flow with me.
Throwback to the early 2000s when I first got into secondary school, I remember being mortified by how quickly my body began to morph from that of a child’s into a teenager’s; my biggest fear was how much I would stick out next to my still flat-chested female friends. I didn’t know that was nothing compared to being objectified by the male students; no one prepared me for how embarrassing it would be to walk past a group of guys who were blatantly ogling you and would still make all sorts of comments as you passed. Yes, they mostly wouldn’t touch you physically, but their words would ring deep.
So I had to develop coping mechanisms, walking with my shoulders caved in, wearing clothes much larger than my then tiny frame, and generally trying to shrink from the spotlight. I developed shyness during puberty that I didn’t have during primary school, all because of how people treated me.
Present day: I’ve gone through a whole lot in respect to my body, people have said and done a lot to me which I’ve had to push past, so where do I stand now? At this point in my life, I’ve come to understand that I have a role to play in society as a woman of God, and so I dress to my standards of modesty; however some people still pass derogatory comments and I can’t help that so I no longer let what others say about my appearance affect me.
When I look in the mirror after dressing up and I have a clear conscience that I am representing God well – I close my mind to whatever contrary things anyone has to say, because there’s really no winning with what people will say, you could wear a bin bag and someone would still have something to say.
Key point: Let God guide your every decision and you’ll be at peace with yourself.
Till next time,
ETP xo
