inside-out — Blog — Stasia Savasuk

Does CELLULITE make my smile any less JOY-FILLED? Sounds like a ridiculous question, doesn't it? I mean, what in heck does cellulite have to do with my smile?? What does cellulite have to do with my capacity to love? What does cellulite have to do with my damn laughter!!

Here's the answer: EVERYTHING... and nothing at all.

Yesterday I posted this picture to Instagram and Facebook with the following caption:

“My daughter took this picture of me tonight. She said i looked beautiful. When I looked at the picture, I saw cellulite. Bah. I bit my tongue and said, “thank you baby” and realized how beautiful the world is through her eyes. My first reaction was to deny her the gift of giving a compliment and say… but look at my thighs!! It takes practice to say thank you without a rebuttal… to accept kindness. Let’s all practice together, shall we. THANK YOU Raisa for seeing my laughter and love and joy-filled heart.”

It was the most liked photograph I've EVER posted to Instagram... and I've posted 358 pictures to Instagram. As of this minute, that photo has reached over 27,500 views on Facebook. If you know anything about organic reach on a FB business page, that number is INSANE, given my relatively small "following".

What that tells me is that I AM NOT ALONE.

It tells me that though the world sees us from the Inside-Out, we see ourselves from the Outside-In.

Others see our beauty and grace and kindness and laughter... despite our perceived "imperfections". They see us play with our kids, love our partners, and be ambassadors of bliss and beauty. They apply that perception to the whole of us. They see beauty.

We see our flaws. Our imperfections. Our saggy boobies, fluffy tummies, cellulite-y thighs and jiggly arms. We take that image and give it value. And then we take that value and we apply it to the whole of us. We see flaws.

I'm sorry gals... but WHAT THE HELL?

It needs to stop, and it needs to STOP NOW!

Easier said than done, right? I get it.

Anything that's wicked wicked hard takes a shit-ton of practice, and that practice MUST start right this very minute. I'm not messing around, either. RIGHT THIS MINUTE!

The next time you receive a compliment, I want you to smile graciously (even if it's a little bit fake) and say "thank you". NO REBUTTAL. NOTHING. NOT A DAMN WORD. (Unless of course, it's to gush over whatever it is they are complimenting you on.)

But NO disclaimers. No denying their truth. No excuses. No caveats.

Just sit with it. KNOW that they are seeing you from the Inside-Out.

When somebody compliments your dress, know that it's really NOT ABOUT THE DRESS!! It's about how you carry yourself in that dress. It's your grace and laughter and kindness and love - all wrapped up into one little ball - and the dress is simply the vehicle for that compliment.

Part of me wants to say... "If not for you, do it for your kids.” Because we’ll do ANYTHING for our kids.

But I'm not gonna say that. I'm gonna say this instead:

DO IT FOR YOU!!

OF COURSE we want our kids to see themselves as beautiful. OF COURSE we won’t want our kids to become paralyzed by negative body image/perception. OF COURSE we want our kids to grow up to be healthy, confident and loving beings. BUT DON'T YOU WANT THAT FOR YOURSELF TOO??

Kids are perceptive, and they'll know if you're "doing it for them". They might not see it when they're younger, but as they get older, they'll call your bluff.

I'm not an expert, but I'm practicing. And I'm getting better.

A year ago, I would have NEVER posted that picture. A year ago, I would have resisted the urge to say "but look at my thighs" FOR MY KIDS, but this time, I DID IT FOR ME.

I’ve got a challenge for you. The next time somebody compliments you...

DO NOT deny the compliment
Smile and say "thank you"
Relish in the fact that they truly SEE YOU, from the Inside-Out

xo Stasia

PS. This is the kind of content we cover in Stasia's Style School, because let's face it, SOOO MUCH of knowing and owning YOUR STYLE has NOTHING to do with the clothes!