I don’t tend to write rant posts because I’m generally a happy person who has learnt to let most things go pretty quickly, but this has been on my mind for a while now, so I need to get it out…
Everywhere I look online, I see social media posts where women are apologising for their stretch marks. Things like when someone posts a photo in a bikini or shorts, and they feel the need to say something along the lines of “excuse the stretch marks”. This is infuriating, so I’m going to tell you now…
Stop apologising for your stretch marks!
I know why you do it, I’ve done it in the past (way more than once). It’s because stretch marks don’t fit in with our idealised body image. You know the one I mean, that picture of a fitness model you think of whenever someone says: “How would your dream body look?”
Got it pictured in your head? Now scrap that image because there’s a huge chance it’s been Photoshopped.
Whatever the reason is for your stretch marks, take some time to learn to embrace them because hating them isn’t going to make them go away, it’s just going to get in your way of loving your body.
I have stretch marks from pregnancy; I became a mum at quite a young age (in my late teens) and my body stretched (as every woman’s does) during pregnancy. I went from a 25 inch waist up to a 41 inch waist, so if I hadn’t got stretch marks it would’ve been a miracle!
Looking back, I get angry about the times I’ve felt awkward about having stretch marks, but I refuse to let it bother me anymore. I have stretch marks because I’m a mum (to an incredible son) and I refuse to feel bad about them because they were a part of bringing him into my life.
The red circles are some areas where I have stretch marks, and the white circle is where I have loose skin.
I accept that in a world filled with Photoshop and filters it can be difficult to accept anything we perceive as flaws because somehow we’ve landed in a place where everyone thinks we should all look absolutely perfect at all times, with no stretch marks, no spots, no wrinkles, etc…but I’ve realised that my self-worth isn’t depicted by how ‘perfect’ other people think I look. I am so much more than just my appearance! We are all worth far more than just how we look!
Self-acceptance is strangely one of the hardest things to achieve and yet if we just find even a tiny bit of it, the difference it makes to our lives is incredible! I’m not saying I’ve found total inner peace or anything like that – I wish I had! But I am working on strengthening my self-acceptance and self-love. Besides, hating stretch marks isn’t going to make them go away, so we might as well learn to love them!
Stop putting yourself down. Stop saying/writing “excuse the stretch marks”.
Your self-worth is so much more than just your outer shell and anyway, stretch marks are memories. My stretch marks played a part in bringing my son into this world and for that I can definitely learn to love them.
Who’s with me?
Related posts:
A number does not define you – be kind to yourself, always
Don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20
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