"Here's to the Girls"

So I'm gonna combine 3 songs here - This One's for the Girls by Martina McBride, Who Says by Selena Gomez and Tied Together with a Smile by Taylor Swift.

Basically you gotta listen to these songs first:

So girls, I know all these people singing these songs are beautiful and seem to have perfect lives but seriously - the message is the same. Girls wake up! You are beautiful! And you know why? Because you. just. are. Stop beating up on yourself. I can attest that when I was younger (I even have pictures to prove it) that I was an ugly duckling. Yah! And you know what is funny? I look pretty much the same physically as I did 3 years ago. You know what changed? My outlook on life. It affects EVERYTHING!

When you change how you see yourself from the inside you begin to change and see yourself differently on the outside. You don't ACTUALLY change but you SEE yourself differently.

A few helpful hints on how to see yourself good from the inside though:

1. Listen to good music. Yah - I know that means boring to most people but, stop with the rap and the slow sad songs. Get some REALLY country or pop (uplifting) stuff that makes you want to go take a shower and get some chores done. It's hard at first but trust me - it works

2. Take a shower every day. You would be surprised how much hygiene has to do with how you feel about yourself. Learn about deodorant, brushing your teeth. Did you know that bad breath actually comes from having a dry mouth? So it's OK to chew gum! It gets rid of bad breath - because it make you salivate. Yah, do it :)

3. Stop wearing makeup. I'm not going to put a time limit on this one (my friend did for me and that doesn't seem to work) but here's the theory. When you feel comfortable NOT wearing makeup - THEN you should be able to wear it. Then go a couple of days without it - IN PUBLIC. Heck yah, trust me. ;)

4. Friends! You have NO idea (well maybe you do) how much your friends affect you! Good Heavens! If you feel happy around your friends and you can be ALL of yourself (crazy, sad, happy, angry, excited, crazy etc) around them - then they are Keepers! But if you find yourself constantly trying to live up to them, live down to them, angry with them, all that junk - I know it's hard (and if it's really that big of a deal, you should talk to your parents about switching schools) but get some new ones. I promise - it makes A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

5. Keep a journal. Yah, I know your life is boring. So is mine! Guess what - here's a secret....rarely ANYone has one of those lives that's exciting on every page. So write anyway. Write your dreams, your disappointments - it's all worth it, because its YOU. and you know what??? YOU are SPECIAL so that means your words are too. So write.

6. Eat healthy. No this is not a diet. Don't go skipping meals (that's been proven to actually be worse for you - makes your body cling to fat, thus makes you fatter) and no I'm not saying go exercise every day (although for some people, that is what they like to do and want to do - to each his own). I'm saying eat 3 square meals a day (square = protein, carbohydrates, VEGGIES, fruits and LOTS OF WATER) get a water bottle and keep it in the fridge so you always have cold water ready for you. Also - snacking is good - just not in excess. Snacks are NOT meals - just something to keep you tided over (like I said earlier - when you starve, you cling to fat. Big no no). So eat right - it gives SO MUCH toward you feeling good about yourself.

7. Sing - OUT LOUD. Something about singing is just good for the soul. Do it.

8. Cry. Not in public - you don't want to cry for the wrong reasons (to get attention) but it's been proven scientifically that crying is a healthy release of water. And emotion. It doesn't hurt anyone :) and no, it's not just a wet mess. If you wear makeup - don't worrrrryyyy!!!!! nobody cares - tell them you ran in the rain :) even if its sunny outside. Also - cold water on the face brings down the swelling (just a hint) ;)

9. Healthy bedtimes: For a normal teenager? Go to bed around 10, 11 AT THE LATEST and then wake up at 6, or 7 (yah I know - EARLY!) but honestly, you'll feel great. And if you can't handle early - make your bedtime sooner, don't sleep in to make up for that.

10. Last but not least - pray. Maybe you don't believe in God, I do - and this one is the most important. Something about talking to God is good for the soul. If you don't know how to pray well then....ask someone who you know is religious or email me.

AAHHhhhhnnnyway. I'm done :) SMILE! Life is ALWAYS good, and if it can get better, it will. I promise :)

-~- Kaylla -~-