The day I started loving myself, the perception of the world changed dramatically and for good. And when you care for self, you care about what matters to you instead of what others think or preceive. You are bound to grow more and more beautiful because you will turn more carefree and will feel veritably liberated. Great goibng, Mohika.
It’s so true—loving ourselves really does change everything! When we focus on what truly matters to us instead of worrying about others’ perceptions, a weight lifts off our shoulders.
Thank you, Mohika, for sharing this deeply personal and moving piece. The vulnerability here, combined with the wisdom from spiritual teachings and poets, really resonates and offers both solace and strength.
I still remember wearing a full-sleeved shirt and leggings under my skirt at school to hide my body hair, even in the blazing Indian summer heat. As you mentioned, Waxing had been a forbidden fruit.
Though I don’t hate my body, I haven’t fully come to terms with liking my body hair either, even now. Reading your post, it’s comforting to know others have felt this way too. Thank you for sharing your journey - it’s inspiring to see self-acceptance as an ongoing process.
What a fabulous, sparkling, beautiful pixie, you are, Mo! This is SUCH a great piece and the message is so very much needed! Bless you for your vulnerability and honesty! There is nothing more affirming than to know we are not alone in our struggles with self. With this piece, you have given your readers a precious gift: connection, compassion, understanding, and, best of all, a safe space to feel and be themselves! LOVE YOU through the Milky Way! ~Wendy💜🙌✨🤗
LOVE YOU right back, all the way to the stars and beyond! 🌌💫🤗 This just sparkles with warmth—thank you so much for these kind words! It's a joy to create a space where we can all show up as we areeee
A very touching piece Mohika!! 🥹 I’ve been very scared to share my experiences about my mental health and how I’ve suffered with it but I’m slowly learning there is power and strength in sharing this and I can help others through speaking out about this 🫶🏻
Thank you so much! 🥹 It means a lot to hear that this resonated with you. And I totally get that feeling—the fear of sharing something so personal is so real. But wow, the strength you’re finding in it is amazing! There’s so much power in speaking up, and by sharing even a little bit, you’re creating space for others to feel seen and less alone!!! ✨
Thanks for this lovely (definitely not wordy!) post, Mohika. I had a terrible relationship with my body for most of my life. It's only very recently that I have come to appreciate it for all I have put it through. Years of hedonism, unhealthy foods, smoking, drugs, binge drinking, and it took it all pretty much without complaint. Yet I judged it all the time for not looking the way we're told our bodies are supposed to be, and believed everyone else was judging it too. Now I treasure it and look after it well. Thank it for all it does for me. Tell it it's beautiful with all its lumps and bumps and scars. I plan for us to be happy and strong together for many years to come. 💙💪
Mohika, this wasn't wordy at all. It was perfect, and I really enjoyed reading it! I was thinking while reading that you are really good at coming up with original (or at least original-sounding) and fun metaphors. Great work once again, Mohika!! 💚
Thank you so much for your kind words, Don! I’m really glad you enjoyed it. As for the metaphors, they might have taken a little inspiration from my heart and imagination. Your support means the world to me! 🧡
PS: totally unrelated but I've started re-reading Thich Naht Hanh because of you!
I vaguely remember my school days except for a few things that stick in my mind! I remember I was rather shy and kept to myself. I had a few close girlfriends but not many friends that were boys, except for boys who lived on my block that were going to the same school. We got a long fine! I do remember one particular boy who teased and called me names! I tried to ignore him! I too was thin as a pencil, had buck teeth and large boobs for my young age! I begged my mom to have my teeth fixed! I also remember having a couple of boyfriends (not at the same time) but wasn't allowed to date! I can remember wearing knee high socks, especially two years I was in Catholic school. I think later when I was in public school I wore pantyhose. Oh, and I do remember going to my guidance counselor and complaining about how the boys were teasing me but my counselor told me just ignore them! Yeah, right, just ignore them!
I can just picture little you with those knee-highs in Catholic school and the pantyhose when you switched! It sounds like you were already so strong for handling the teasing with grace!!
My husband has a saying, “ You have to like yourself, not be in love with yourself” and there is a difference. People can be cruel, and when young it is not something that they even recognise. You have to be true to yourself, that is something I am feeling about you. Perhaps deep and meaningful coming from someone old enough to be your grandmother, but I do feel what you are saying.
Sally, your husband’s saying is spot on! That line between liking yourself and being obsessed is so real, still learning to walk it! And I’ll take all the “deep and meaningful” from someone wise enough to share it 😊
One thing??? How do I narrow it down? My own judgment is probably the worst. But I have the power to change that or at least keep it in check—with one disapproving stare that gets the message across with no words: I disapprove (of) your disapproval.
This post knocks the ball out of the park, by the way!
Absolutely love the way you write! Looking forward to reading more of your work. I remember being a bit like you back then. The boys nicknamed me giraffe, yep I’m still 6”!
Thank you, Marti! So glad you're enjoying my writing! 🤗 And ha, giraffe! 🦒 6 feet tall is something to strut with pride! I used to wish for that kind of height until I realized I'm better off being close to the earth (i'm hardly 4'11!!!) haha
The day I started loving myself, the perception of the world changed dramatically and for good. And when you care for self, you care about what matters to you instead of what others think or preceive. You are bound to grow more and more beautiful because you will turn more carefree and will feel veritably liberated. Great goibng, Mohika.
It’s so true—loving ourselves really does change everything! When we focus on what truly matters to us instead of worrying about others’ perceptions, a weight lifts off our shoulders.
And you emerge as a better version of self. I am so happy for you. And feel proud that you are an inspiration in a real sense. 🌟🌟
I’m glad you finally know you’re beautiful 🥰
Me too 😀
i have loved all the recent smiley pics
they always make me feel a little better about the world somehow
like goodness might (actually) have a chance 💙🙏
it truly is amazing
how faces (can) give us hope !
it does it does it does! because you and I exist!
This makes me feel less alone and inspires me to be more compassionate to myself. Thank you for writing this Mohika! 🤍
Lots of love to you 💓😚
Thank you, Mohika, for sharing this deeply personal and moving piece. The vulnerability here, combined with the wisdom from spiritual teachings and poets, really resonates and offers both solace and strength.
I still remember wearing a full-sleeved shirt and leggings under my skirt at school to hide my body hair, even in the blazing Indian summer heat. As you mentioned, Waxing had been a forbidden fruit.
Though I don’t hate my body, I haven’t fully come to terms with liking my body hair either, even now. Reading your post, it’s comforting to know others have felt this way too. Thank you for sharing your journey - it’s inspiring to see self-acceptance as an ongoing process.
I appreciate you being here and sharing your heart with me!
This was a beautiful piece of vulnerability Mo!
Cheers to self love and emotional health 🥂
😊
Hi Jamal 👋 thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts with me! Super happy to find you in my comment section always!
What a fabulous, sparkling, beautiful pixie, you are, Mo! This is SUCH a great piece and the message is so very much needed! Bless you for your vulnerability and honesty! There is nothing more affirming than to know we are not alone in our struggles with self. With this piece, you have given your readers a precious gift: connection, compassion, understanding, and, best of all, a safe space to feel and be themselves! LOVE YOU through the Milky Way! ~Wendy💜🙌✨🤗
LOVE YOU right back, all the way to the stars and beyond! 🌌💫🤗 This just sparkles with warmth—thank you so much for these kind words! It's a joy to create a space where we can all show up as we areeee
A very touching piece Mohika!! 🥹 I’ve been very scared to share my experiences about my mental health and how I’ve suffered with it but I’m slowly learning there is power and strength in sharing this and I can help others through speaking out about this 🫶🏻
Thank you so much! 🥹 It means a lot to hear that this resonated with you. And I totally get that feeling—the fear of sharing something so personal is so real. But wow, the strength you’re finding in it is amazing! There’s so much power in speaking up, and by sharing even a little bit, you’re creating space for others to feel seen and less alone!!! ✨
Exactly!!! 🥹✨
Thanks for this lovely (definitely not wordy!) post, Mohika. I had a terrible relationship with my body for most of my life. It's only very recently that I have come to appreciate it for all I have put it through. Years of hedonism, unhealthy foods, smoking, drugs, binge drinking, and it took it all pretty much without complaint. Yet I judged it all the time for not looking the way we're told our bodies are supposed to be, and believed everyone else was judging it too. Now I treasure it and look after it well. Thank it for all it does for me. Tell it it's beautiful with all its lumps and bumps and scars. I plan for us to be happy and strong together for many years to come. 💙💪
Oh, Amanda, I adore this so much! This is the sweetest kind of glow-up!!
Thank youuuuuuu so much for this. Thank you. Such a beautiful piece. 🥹
Ahhh, thank youuuuuuu! 🥹💕 I’m so, so glad it resonated with you. Thank you for reading and feeling it with me. 🤗✨
Mohika, this wasn't wordy at all. It was perfect, and I really enjoyed reading it! I was thinking while reading that you are really good at coming up with original (or at least original-sounding) and fun metaphors. Great work once again, Mohika!! 💚
Thank you so much for your kind words, Don! I’m really glad you enjoyed it. As for the metaphors, they might have taken a little inspiration from my heart and imagination. Your support means the world to me! 🧡
PS: totally unrelated but I've started re-reading Thich Naht Hanh because of you!
Nice! I think Nhat Hanh’s gentle and loving writing style has influenced my own the most. 💚
I vaguely remember my school days except for a few things that stick in my mind! I remember I was rather shy and kept to myself. I had a few close girlfriends but not many friends that were boys, except for boys who lived on my block that were going to the same school. We got a long fine! I do remember one particular boy who teased and called me names! I tried to ignore him! I too was thin as a pencil, had buck teeth and large boobs for my young age! I begged my mom to have my teeth fixed! I also remember having a couple of boyfriends (not at the same time) but wasn't allowed to date! I can remember wearing knee high socks, especially two years I was in Catholic school. I think later when I was in public school I wore pantyhose. Oh, and I do remember going to my guidance counselor and complaining about how the boys were teasing me but my counselor told me just ignore them! Yeah, right, just ignore them!
I can just picture little you with those knee-highs in Catholic school and the pantyhose when you switched! It sounds like you were already so strong for handling the teasing with grace!!
My husband has a saying, “ You have to like yourself, not be in love with yourself” and there is a difference. People can be cruel, and when young it is not something that they even recognise. You have to be true to yourself, that is something I am feeling about you. Perhaps deep and meaningful coming from someone old enough to be your grandmother, but I do feel what you are saying.
Sally, your husband’s saying is spot on! That line between liking yourself and being obsessed is so real, still learning to walk it! And I’ll take all the “deep and meaningful” from someone wise enough to share it 😊
One thing??? How do I narrow it down? My own judgment is probably the worst. But I have the power to change that or at least keep it in check—with one disapproving stare that gets the message across with no words: I disapprove (of) your disapproval.
This post knocks the ball out of the park, by the way!
Marilyn, yesss! That stare is a superpower 🦸♀️ Thanks a million for the love on this post!
I refrain from going to beaches or don't wear shorts because I've Anil Kapoor syndrome xP
Can't bear all the oggling and staring.
I feel you! beaches seem to have their own set of “judges.” Maybe we need a “hair-flip-it’s-2024” club where we rock all that nature gave us!!!
Absolutely love the way you write! Looking forward to reading more of your work. I remember being a bit like you back then. The boys nicknamed me giraffe, yep I’m still 6”!
Thank you, Marti! So glad you're enjoying my writing! 🤗 And ha, giraffe! 🦒 6 feet tall is something to strut with pride! I used to wish for that kind of height until I realized I'm better off being close to the earth (i'm hardly 4'11!!!) haha