I used to think beautiful hair meant smooth hair.

I used to think beautiful skin meant smooth skin.

I used to think a beautiful life meant a smooth ride.

As it turns out, I was wrong about it all.

As I gently untangle myself from the lies and expectations I’ve been fed my whole life, I’m discovering that true beauty isn’t remotely about the kind of beauty we’ve been brainwashed with. It’s not about a groomed appearance, flawless skin, or a picture perfect life. Quite the contrary actually. True beauty is about being our raw, vulnerable, and unfiltered selves.

In a society that seems to value external validation over authenticity, self-love can be a tough practice. But if you start by acknowledging the lies you’ve been told and re-writing your own truths, well, that’s a strong place to start. By ditching the old notions of convention, we can become our own admirers, celebrating every flaw, every quirk, and every aspect that makes us unique. No longer seeking outside approval, we can find empowerment in being ourselves.

So here’s to rewriting the story, where the mirror reflects more than just our appearance. Let it reflect the unfiltered spirit within – the spirit that refuses to be confined, that breaks free from the cages of expectations, and that dances with wild abandon through life.

May we embrace our wild hair as a testament to our untamed spirit. Let’s revel in the beauty of authenticity, finding solace in the fact that the most beautiful version of ourselves is the one that’s 100% real.