Self image | Self love.

At first, I thought that it was a boy that boosted my confidence, that made me start caring about my body and how I looked.And then I saw this quote;

Confidence happens when you let it happen. No one gives it to you, which is great, because it also means they can’t take it from you. -Brooke Magnanti

And it made me realize it's been me all along. Because that boy is practically gone now, and I'm still working on my inner and outer beauty. I'm not doing it for him, or for anyone else. I'm doing it for myself.

It's so weird, ya know. I've never cared, I've never loved myself, or my body this much. I've always worried about my looks, but that wasn't a caring kind of worry. It was a "They're not going to like the way I look" kind of worry. And so I always tried to tell myself "It's your personality that counts" and so I never paid any attention and never worked on my appearance.

It took 12 years of self harm for me to wake up.

And, I gotta tell you, it feel amazing to be awake! I've just been dragging my feet through life, always wishing I was someone or somewhere else. But now I feel good to be where I am, and great to be myself.

I am beautiful, even though not everybody sees it (including myself).
I am strong.
I am awesome.
I am funny.
I am a caring, compassionate person.
I am considerate.
I am weird, but it's okay, because that's what makes me cool.
I am talented.
I am great at my job.
I am blessed.
I am good enough.
I am worth it.

I will, finally, be okay.
And I am excited for that!

Music = Love.

Imagine a guitar covered in dust.
When you strum it, dust will fly everywhere.
Now imagine a drum covered in dust.
When you hit it with a drumstick, dust flies.
Did you imagine it happening in slow motion?
I did.
Now listen to this -
When you strum a guitar or drum a drum, stuff flies off of it.
But it's not dust, oh no, it's something far better.
You see, music is love.
What do I mean by that?
Well, music and love are very much the same.
They are both understood by even small children,
people of every skin color, every culture, every gender, every mental state.
Every human knows what love is, and what music is.
Music speaks to even the deaf.
Even the deaf can feel the music.
Do you get that?
Music is more than just something you hear.
It's something you see, and feel, and sometimes even taste.
Music is love because everybody understands it.
No matter what language.
Music heals, music helps, music guides.
Music never leaves.
Even if all musical instruments were destroyed somehow,
we will still be able to make music.

You know what's powerful?
Being in a band.
Or being a musical artist.
If you make music for a living, or for fun,
you have the power to change the world.
People don't realize this.
But if you know what music is and what it does for and to people,
then you would understand this.
If you make music, you have the power to heal.
When you play your music, you must play with a love and a passion that
echoes off of your instrument and off of your voice.
Everyone who can hear your music, will feel your love.
And that is what everybody needs, right?

Every tiny note packs so much love.
And when all of these notes collide,
Something amazing happens.

You can't be so close-minded about the powerfulness and the magic that music possesses.
If you think that music can put you in a better mood, why can't you believe, if used properly,
music can make peace?
Even murderous scum enjoy music.
Even the worst sinners know how to feel and be loved.

People find comport in music.
Music speaks.
Love is there.
Love is music.
Music is love.
You are powerful.
Share the love.
Spread the music.

Just a few of my photos.