This isn’t a “love yourself”, “everyBODY is beautiful”, “YOU are perfectly imperfect” kind of post. Although … I’m sure those messages will inadvertently weave their way into here. I am writing this from a place that I haven’t ever gotten to in my years of self work, personal development and hustle …

Realising that that outward appearances aren’t all that furgin important. I know, revelationary isn’t it. While the sentiment of “you can’t judge a book by its cover” is one that I have both been exposed to, and preached, it has always still been a little more “oh that’s lovely in theory, but everyone knows it’s bullocks”.

Most of my little epiphanies and breakthroughs happen whilst I’m away. The new environment and constantly changing back drop clears the weeds out of my mind, and allows me to adopt a little difference in perspective. Thinking becomes easier, automated and free. So, why would this trip be any different?

On the beach and reading my way through my 4th book of the trip – I became insanely grateful for my mind. This brain of mine that constantly questions, challenges, grows, evolves and seeks is by far my strongest asset. And shouldn’t that always be our sexiest feature? Not our skin if we finally managed to make it #flawless, not our flat tummy after doing 1000 crunches daily, not our size 6 or 10 or 16 body (depending on societal ideologies) but rather the one part of us that allows us to experience, engage with and perceive this big ole world around us.

So often you become “snap happy” on holiday too. Everything becomes a photo op – whether it’s a temple, a beach, a meal or whatever. And, often, us humans get papped too. I, like I’m sure many of you, will often get caught up scrutinising what I look like in the photo. Whether the lighting enhanced my side flub, extra chin or bumpy skin and then berating myself for the imperfections. But this trip I have been trying to notice how happy I am in each picture or how stunning the scenery is that I’m fortunate enough to be in or just how full my bloody heart is.

If I woke up with a flat tummy or a 9 month preggo baby bloat – my experience of the day would not at all change. If I had clear vibrant skin or a face full of spots – my ability to savour the flavours and textures of an epic meal would not be impeded. If I was a size 2 or my current sturdy little bod – I imagine that scaling a mountain or riding a bike cross country wouldn’t be influenced. (Although my deliciously chunky Arnold Shwartz legs would likely put me in better stead).

Our ability to see and experience the world, and all of its beauty and ugliness, is our biggest gift. And it doesn’t matter whether we wore blue or pink shorts the day we watched that killer sunset, the size of the pimple on our forehead when we met our niece for the first time and her tiny hand held our finger, the few extra kilos we were carrying when the person we loved whispered “I love you”, the fact that you were too tall/short, fat/thin, clear skinned/pimply AF when you enjoyed a dinner party with your nearest and dearest. None of these things matter when you are present and immersed in the beauty of that moment.

So here’s to loving our minds, appreciating our unique physicalities and diving headfirst into every experience imaginable during our finite time on earth. Because THAT’S the most bangin’ and beautiful thing we could ever hope to achieve anyway, no?

Blessings and bountiful body love x