12:00 AM

I look at this picture and think how far I have come. It bring sup a lot of emotions of a dark period in my life. Depression, sadness and being in turmoil. 2007 was a year I wasn't sure I would make it out alive, then again in 2010.

Who I am now, isn't perfect. I have lose skin, cellulite, stretchmarks and rolls. THAT IS ME!

I am a woman with battle scars and my body shows it. A battle I have won. I sit back and see and read of so many women who are afraid to get naked in front of a man and IN FRONT OF THEMSELVES.

If I undress for a man, he better expect no airbrush, no flawless skin. He better expect a WOMAN who has womanly scars. He can take it or leave it because after 27 years of struggling with my body image, I am at a point in my life that being naked isn't the most embarrassing thing that can happen. If someone expects my body to be perfect, they better have a perfect body themselves. 

THIS IS ME! This is my tiger stripes that I have fought for. Is this embarrassing? SURE! hell getting naked isn't something I look forward to, but with summer around the corner, I am coming into my own skin and accepting THIS IS ME!

And you are YOU! Its YOUR skin! You have to live with it for the REST of you YOUR LIFE...Might as well get comfortable in it. 

Get comfortable & rejoice in the fact you worked damn hard for those stripes. Rejoice in the fact that you are a woman and each woman bares different stripes. IT STANDS FOR WORK. It stands for HARD work at that.

So with that said, go run around naked! Just kidding...I don't want you arrested. But LOVE YOUR SKIN. 



Big Mark 243 said...

You know Stef, I have always admired you and your courage... you look at yourself with a totally objective eye and you don't spare yourself... makes me smile, because all the things that society has made women dislike about their bodies are things that I appreciate about them..! At any rate, this is another courageous entry..!

Jessica said...

your doing well hun! and your looking great doing it!

kristine said...

You are my hero! I love and admire you so much - you have no idea. I have been inspired by you from the moment we "met" on IG.
Thank you for posting this truth. <3 Smooches, love!

kristine said...

... And Big Mark, I tip my hat to you. Amazing compliment.

Ale said...

You are one hell of a woman never cease to amaze me. You are an inspiration. You are beautiful, and your struggle and journey to being comfortable in your body is part of that beauty. No need for flawless, airbrushed, or fake anyhting. You are the epitome of perfection because of the fact that you are perfectly imperfect. :)