How Old Were You When You Started Feeling Like You Needed to Change Your Appearance?

This is definitely one of those subjects that is a deeper conversation for many of us about marketing and how women are targeted to feel “less than.” Sigh. But I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, mostly because Connor is going to be eight soon, and that’s when I first started feeling like I needed to change my appearance.

That summer, I was running through the sprinklers in the backyard with my best friend, Karrie, who was a skinny string bean. (Side note, do kids still run through the sprinklers? Hmmm.)

In retrospect, I was a thin child, too, but at the time I remember wondering if my tummy was sticking out; suddenly, the rainbow one-piece swimsuit that I spent days running around in felt like it wasn’t doing me any favors. It was the very first time I felt like something was wrong with my body, which is why it sticks out so vividly in my mind.

I wish I could go back in time and give that little eight-year-old Karen a hug! She really didn’t know any better, and she could’ve used a gentle talk about how all bodies are shaped differently and how hers was beautiful.

Anywho, how old were you when you first felt this way? And if you’d like to write that version of you a kind note, please feel free to do that, too.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. TGIF. I hope you have a great day!