Shake It Off

Ever notice how society seems to have this unspoken rulebook for women, especially when it comes to how we look and what makes us desirable? It's a constant tightrope walk between being ourselves and trying to measure up.

Think about it: you're out and about, and you see two women. Maybe it's a mom and her daughter. The daughter's rocking that effortless, comfortable vibe – casual clothes, sneakers, hair in a messy bun. She's just being. Then there's her mom, dressed to the nines in something that screams "look at me," maybe even a bit uncomfortable, but clearly meant to grab attention.

For so many of us, seeing something like that used to hit hard. It was like a gut punch, confirming all those insecurities we carried. That perfect or audacious woman out there? She somehow highlighted everything we felt we weren't.

And why did we feel that way? Because for too long, we've been fed this narrative that a woman's worth is tied to how well she fits a certain mold. We were taught, implicitly or explicitly, that male attention, and therefore our value, hinged on looking a certain way. Flawless hair, full makeup, alluring clothes – it was this constant performance, a version of womanhood that felt totally separate from who we actually were. We were always on display, always seeking approval. It's exhausting, right?

Stepping into Our Power

But here's the beautiful part: a lot of us are finally shaking off that old story. The days of being crushed by those anxieties? They're fading. We're realizing how much precious energy we wasted trying to be someone else, trying to live up to an external ideal that never truly satisfied us. If only we could go back and tell our younger selves: "Hey, those expectations? They're not universal truths. You don't have to embody them." So many years spent trying to squeeze into a mold that never fit.

Yet, from that ache for our past selves comes this incredible surge of pride for the women we're becoming. There's a profound joy in choosing authenticity. We're done chasing external validation. We don't need to dress in a costume or pile on makeup to feel complete. The sheer freedom of not spending hours in front of the mirror, trying to sculpt ourselves into someone we're not, or chasing some fleeting idea of perfect—that's a quiet, but mighty, victory.

And in that victory, there's also compassion. We can look at the woman still caught in that cycle, the one who feels she needs to dress a certain way for attention, and feel a pang of empathy. She's likely carrying the same heavy weight of societal pressure, perhaps even unknowingly passing it on.

So, as we pull our own comfortable clothes a little closer, there's a quiet strength that settles in. It's a silent nod to our own journey, a profound celebration of finally owning who we are, no apologies needed. We're here, just as we are, and it's more than enough.

Proverbs 31:25-31 NIV. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come…