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Tag: self love

  • Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I hold this statement to be true. Society has set beauty “standards” that simply do not benefit anyone, even those who fit said “standards”. When the word beauty is mentioned, what is the first thing that comes to mind? The first thing that might come to mind might be physical appearance and that’s ok. Unfortunately, this is how the word and concept of beauty is first taught to many of us. It can be damaging to have one perspective of beauty. It is time to unlearn this single version of what beauty means. Take that power back and define beauty under your own terms, self love is the best kind of love.

    Defining Beauty for Ourselves

    In a society that constantly pushes impossible and ever changing beauty standards, it can be difficult to understand what beauty means to us. The thing about beauty is that it is everywhere! Beauty does not have to look a certain way, be a certain color, have a certain shape, sound a certain way. Beauty is what you decide it is, much like art. The simple fact that someone disagrees with you should not discourage you from believing that something or someone is beautiful. That is the first thing to know about defining beauty, not everyone will agree with you and that is ok because they do not have to. 

    I find beauty in the unconventional, the experimental. The world would be quite boring if everything and everyone in it looked the same. We would not have much to be inspired from. Beauty is inspiration and it is limitless. I find beauty in my culture, in music, in knowledge, in community, in people, in my everyday observations. We are quick to judge but if we take a closer look and remain open-minded, we are bound to find something we may find beautiful. Beauty is not superficial, beauty is also held within. Your thoughts, your kind gestures and your knowledge contribute greatly to how you present yourself to the world. Be kind to yourself, always.

    What are some ways that you redefine beauty?

  • My Love For Carrot Cake

    I have always had a sweet tooth, that’s not bound to change any time soon. Oftentimes, we are told that sweets are bad for us and we should limit our intake. The reality is that too much of anything can be bad for us – even the good stuff! When I think about food, I think of love and connection. It is important that we have a healthy relationship with food. It is important to create a balance and not shy away from what is considered “bad” or “unhealthy”. 

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, my mother and I decided to get into baking. We experimented with different types of recipes and different types of ingredients. In the end, it was a simple carrot cake recipe that won me over. I would make it with or without my mother for my entire family every time I got the chance to. This simple, sweet delicacy brought us together. It is the reason why I enjoy it so much and think of love and togetherness whenever I have it. It can be deemed “unhealthy” because of the oil, butter or sugar content in it and if that is of concern, the amount can alway be adjusted! Nothing is set in stone when it comes to following a recipe. There is always room for experimentation and even if you don’t wish to change the recipe, any food is enjoyable in moderation!

    So far, I have made and ate carrot cake on its own, with chocolate chips, with nuts, with coconut, fruits,  and I have yet to explore other ways of having it. My favorite way to have it is with a dollop of vanilla ice cream on top or next to it. It is very easy to feel guilty about what we consume. I see it this way, if it makes you happy and you feel great in the moment, allow that feeling to sit in and last. We all deserve the happiness that comes with enjoying our favorite foods no matter what.

    Aside from carrot cake, fried oreos come in a close second! What are some of your favorite foods to indulge in every once in a while?

    Here’s a recipe you can try!