I am a woman. soft and squishy! strong and weak at exactly the same time I can think, act, do and provide for myself I can use my heart to love, care and nurture I can use my mind to think for myself and change the world make a difference. My legs are strong, or at least they are getting there. They will soon be strong enough to carry me miles and miles To take me to a world I could never imagine A place where dreams are made? A place where I matter and count. My arms are soft and enveloping. They give good, warm hugs. My hands are soft and gentle, the perfect size for holding. They are calloused from creating, and working hard. The soft curves of my breasts and belly, the roundness of my hips and bottom make me sexy and womanly (but I don't like when boys stare or touch.) My mind is easily swayed though. My ideas are quickly changed, or shot down. My head is constantly fed lies. Messages screaming and pointing at me from every direction: Be small! Be thin! Be graceful! Be bony! No fat! Reduce yourself! Try this pill! Don't eat that! Look like this! Act like that! Wear these clothes! Suck it in! Cut your hair! Shape up! Tone up! Be like her! Be like me! Be sexy! Don't speak! Don't express! Don't think like that! Think like this! Don't do that, do this! Try this cream! Try this powder! "Celery is the miracle food!" Find a husband! Get a better job! Have a baby! Bigger house, and better car! Be the perfect woman! obey. please. do as you're told. (then you'll be happy for sure!) Is this what it means to be a woman? To be 'just so'? Constantly changing, improving, destroying? Well, I say no more. I am not 80% airbrushed, like you. and no cream powder diet pill procedure program regimen or reduction will make me less. 80% less would make me thirty eight pounds? Is that correct? Impossible! And I say no more. If I am hungry, I will eat! If I am happy, I will celebrate and express it! If I am sad, I will weep, and feel and grow. I will learn, learn to be a real woman. I will stop abusing my body. stop destroying it. stop neglecting it. stop ignoring it. This is the beginning. Enough is enough. I am strong, or at least I'm actively working towards it. I will to learn, grow, accept, and love. Because I am (or soon will believe) worth it. And so are you.