"Corduroy” and Self-Love

Today I want to share:

Pictured: Second to left. Ten year old me forcing a smile while wearing my first public shoulder less outfit. Terrifying to say the least. 

1997. San Diego. Balboa Park.

Story Time:

Today for Valentine’s Day💖I want to share a book that helped remind me about self love. Knowing that what we view as imperfections are really our strengths and the gateways towards helping others overcome challenging situations.

My mother thought it would be a good idea to get me involved in more social endeavors and so she enrolled me into all sorts of dancing classes.

But the truth was- I was clumsy and starting to develop body issues as a young girl entering a few years away from adolescence. I was old enough to understand my body wasn’t “okay” according to social standards and to place myself in front of everyone on a stage against other smaller frames made me feel absolutely terrified and very unloved.

Pictured Book: “Corduroy” by Don Freeman @vikingtradepress

I knew I couldn’t move as the other girls and I knew I didn’t look as beautifully packaged as the rest. Or at least that’s what my ten year old self told my mind. As a result I wasn’t ever happy doing these activities. It reminded me what I wasn’t. Which was ordinary. And as a self-conscious girl all I wanted to do is to sink back into the shadows.

Corduroy Bear was a story that reminded me that what one looks like does not matter because you must first love yourself. But it also taught me, that sometimes it takes a little love to remind you of how special you are, imperfections and all.

And at the end of the day you realize perhaps you weren’t ordinary for a reason. You were meant to be extraordinary. And that’s more powerful than anything else in the world.

So this Valentine's Day, remember this day is meant to remind you to love yourself because in doing so you’ll shine so much brighter than the closest comet in the sky.

 #Storyteller #ChildhoodMemories #PictureBooks #immigrantstories