Yesterday, today, and tomorrow

Yesterday

you looked in the mirror

said to yourself,

ugh

I look ugly

she's so ugly

ew

last week

you saw your reflection in the window

you grimaced and hurried away

last month

you saw your yearbook photo

you complained about how terrible you look

how your complexion was off

last year

you stopped wearing somewhat tight shirts and pants

you only wore baggy t-shirts a size too big

got rid of almost all of your leggings

when you were little

you weren't embarrassed about a pimple

you weren't ashamed of your body

you weren't self-conscious about every step you took

today

you're still doing that

you're still dissing your reflection

hiding your body

withdrawing into your baggy clothes

tomorrow, though

find that shirt that you used to love to wear

the one that you would now call "skimpy"

even though it wasn't really skimpy at all

try on your leggings again

remember how comfortable they were?

Remember those shorts

the ones with the pockets?

Tomorrow

look in the mirror and say to the girl in the reflection

you're beautiful

I love you

you're so pretty

remind yourself that you matter

tell yourself the truth

not the warped reality that you live in

lived in.

Tomorrow

take a step out of your comfort zone

remind yourself that you're better than you've been calling yourself

you're not ugly

you're not disgusting

you're beautiful and pretty and amazing

you can do this

you need to believe in yourself.