International Women's Day: A Love Letter For All You Amazing Women

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “I am

Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights,” but I

think there is another important issue out there I want

to focus on and think could honestly be the theme every

year: self love. This is definitely something I have

struggled with for almost my entire life, but now that I am

single I have decided to use this time for myself and start

to chip away at all the insecurities that that little voice inside

my head likes to whisper. In this article I talk about a few

of the biggest things that have plagued me throughout the

years and I hope that it can serve as a reminder to you

reading this that you are important, that you deserve the best, and

that girl, you call the shots because this is your life. Take

control, own who you are, and love yourself.

You are enough.

In my last relationship I was constantly feeling like I couldn’t

do anything right. That no matter how hard I tried I was

just never good enough. Now, almost a year after leaving

I have found that this is still something I struggle with on a

daily basis, except, instead of seeking validation from him,

I try to find it from friends, from other men, and from social

media (the biggest of them all). What can I say? I am drawn

to the validation of others like a shark to blood. However, seeking

this validation has done nothing but make me continue to feel like

I did when I was in that relationship: like I am not now nor

will I ever be enough. But I am here to tell you that that feeling stops

now. So what if that guy you like isn’t interested in you? That’s his

loss. So what if you don’t have thousands of followers on

Instagram? Your value shouldn’t be based on what others think or say.

You need to be your own biggest fan and constantly be

unapologetically you because there is no one else out there like you.

And most importantly remember that “You are enough. You have always

been enough. You will always be enough.” - Etta Arlene

You deserve R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

I am a people pleaser through and through. I don't even think the

word no is in my vocabulary. I have no problem bending over

backwards for anyone I care about regardless of how it affects

me or what amount of effort I get back in return. However, something

I am slowly starting to accept is that it doesn't have to be

that way. If someone hurts you...tell them. If someone refuses

to treat you with respect and continues to make you feel

used...refuse to keep them in your life. (I know, easier said

than done, but trust me sister you will be grateful for that later.) You are

not a doormat and if there is something you don't want to do

it is okay to say no. The people who actually care about you

will understand and the ones that don't will make it painfully

obvious that they don’t deserve to have you in their lives. It's

truly amazing how much better you will feel when you know

you are surrounded by those who appreciate all you do for

them and will also be there for you in a heartbeat.

Your body is beautiful.

I have never been happy with the way I look. Everytime I look

in the mirror it seems like I find something new to hate; My hips

are too wide, my butt isn't tight enough, my teeth aren’t straight, no

one can EVER see me without makeup. It’s never ending.

However, listening to my Bible study podcast I heard something

that really made me stop and think. Each one of us was handcrafted

in the image of God, in the image of His perfection. So you

shouldn’t be wasting your time focusing on what you hate and

wishing that you looked like someone else. Instead, you should be

focusing on loving everything about yourself because He made

you perfect just the way you are.

Instagram: @schultzzie

YouTube: Sierra Schultzzie

Stop comparing.

I cannot tell you how many hours I have spent obsessively

comparing myself to other girls. I have changed the way I act, I

have changed the way I dress, I have changed what I post on

social media and how often. However, as I sat on my bathroom

floor crying for the umpteenth time because I still didn't come

close to some other girl, I realized just how stupid it all was. I could

change everything about myself and I still wouldn't compare to

them because I will never be them. But guess what? That is 100% okay.

In fact, that is a great thing. We are all unique and there is no

one out there who can compare to who you are so instead of

wishing you were someone else, you need to embrace every little

unique thing that makes you you. There may be millions of girls out

there, but there is only one you and that is something no one

else can copy or take away.

Breaking down does not make you weak.

There's no sugarcoating it….life is hard. It moves fast, it's

exciting, it's heartbreaking, and it throws curveballs you

never saw coming. Everyone has moments where they simply

cannot take on anymore and that is okay. You do not have to be

superwoman all the time. Cry if you need to or smash things to

smithereens, whatever you feel like you need to do. Everyone

goes through moments like these so you are not alone and these

moments do not in any way make you weak. Just make sure

you wash your face, clean up your mess, and get up

off of the floor when you are done.

He isn’t worth it sis.

When it comes to me and the guys I date I tend to make some

unfavorable decisions in order to please them. (Hello, it’s

me, the people pleaser again.) I have compromised my values

and who I am as a person, I have gone above and beyond

to do anything that would make them happy, and I have made

some highly irresponsible decisions, but all for what? So I could find

myself crying once again because he makes me feel used by

not reciprocating my efforts, or even shows that he at least

appreciates them, and then, oh, leaves anyway? Doesn’t that just

sound like the greatest love story you ever heard? No? Well I certainly

agree with you there, which is why I am here to tell you that no matter

what it is about him that you cannot seem to shake...he. Is. Not. Worth it.

You can do everything right, but if it is for the wrong man then

it won’t ever make a difference. So chin up gorgeous…..recognize

what you deserve. You were happy before him and you will be

happier without him. Focus instead on loving yourself and enjoying

every ounce of the single life. Eventually the right man will come

along who will never make you feel that way and will make you

wonder why you ever wasted your time putting up

with anything less.