We've reached the end of week 4 of the self-love revolution. How has it been treating you so far? I hope it's been going well and that you are radically accepting the fact that you CAN be happy.
As the last part of this week's challenge, I wanted to talk a little bit about just how STUPID numbers are. As in the numbers on your clothing tags. As in, I'm ONLY worth something if I'm a certain completely unrealistic size. You know what I'm talking about, right? Yeah. Somewhere along the line we became obsessed with numbers--calories, pounds, sizes. It's unreal and, to be honest, insane.
I think that of everything I wanted to convince you of this month, this right here is one of the biggies:
YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY A NUMBER.
DO NOT LET A NUMBER MAKE OR BREAK YOUR DAY.
IT'S A MEANINGLESS NUMBER
.How many times have you needed to buy a new pair of jeans but you just couldn't do it because you were afraid of what the stupid tiny number on the tag would tell you? And you were afraid it might completely ruin your day and send you into a wild frenzy of I'M NOT GOOD ENOUGH BECAUSE OF WHAT A TAG SAID!
If that has happened to you, let me offer you another little challenge: try letting go of the numbers. Radically accept the fact that your genes might not ever let you fit into that stupid size you think you should be. Then go one step further and radically accept that you are more than a number and it doesn't define you.
Here's where the DIY comes in. If you have a pair of jeans that you love but can't handle what the tag says, do the following:
1. Get a pair of scissors and your jeans
2. Cut the tag out
3. Wear them and wear them with pride because you look GOOD!
You can laugh all you want, but I'm telling you--cutting the tags out of your clothing is HUGELY liberating. You put your clothes on in the morning because it's what you want to wear and it feels good. You don't worry about the tag mocking you and making you feel worthless.
Want to know a silly and semi-absurd story? As I was getting ready to leave rehab, my therapist took me to the mall for the ever dreaded jeans shopping experience. Instead of me picking the jeans, my therapist brought a MOUNTAIN of jeans into my dressing room and hid the tags from me. I then tried on the mountain of jeans, finally picking a pair I liked. As soon as we bought them, she cut the tag out, and I never knew what size those pants actually were. It.was.AWESOME. Those were my favorite pants for years, and I never once felt awful putting them on. You should try shopping with no numbers sometime. I promise it will change your life.
So as we end week 4, please, please, please just TRY to let go of numbers. Stop weighing yourself obsessively, fretting over jeans and dress sizes, and killing yourself over calorie counting. Be smart--YOU know what you need more than a number does.
Bottom line, you are worth so much more than a number. LOVE YOURSELF!
This post is part of the self-love revolution going on all month long here on A is for Ampersand. Be sure to sign the declaration of self-hate independence and join in on the revolution!
This post nearly made me cry because you are so right about numbers. It's something that I technically knew but didn't really understand, you know? Thanks so much for posting this and doing this whole month and I was wondering--is this something you'd be interested in doing for more than the month? Because it's been so fantastic to read your posts.
Mags you are the sweetest! Thank you so much for reading and I am insanely happy to hear that you've been enjoying the month. And you know, I've been trying to think about how to carry on the revolution, and I think I'll try to maybe do a weekly or monthly feature of some sort. I'll get brainstorming!
Thank you for writing this! Good luck with thinking of it for the future because I really think you've got something here!
What a phenomenal idea. You are brilliant ma'am.
Yet again, you hit the nail right on the head, Amy. LOVE this idea. Those silly arbitrary numbers hold such power over us and we shouldn't let them!! I know I would/will benefit from ignoring the numbers and just wearing what makes me feel great.
Related note: I've been enjoying shopping for mostly vintage and thrifted clothes lately, and I *love* how the numbers on the tags mean very little when the clothes come from a wide variety of decades, stores, even places in some cases. You just pick something off the rack, hold it up, see if it looks like it will fit, and try it out without glancing at the tags because you know they don't mean much. So freeing to shop that way!
Self love month has been awesome. You're the best, Amy!!
This is so funny and cute! I have a few close friends that need this done to their clothes... Love love love!
xo Heather http://ahopelessnotebook.blogspot.com/
Brilliant!
Have I ever told you what a blessing you are? Cause you are my friend! Thank you for being real and liberating hundreds if not thousands of ladies through this series...love you!
Clothing sizes really don't mean anything, they differ so much from store to store.
Natasha, you are EXACTLY right. I meant to put that in the post but forgot. Sizes differ so drastically, and it's absurd how prone we are to basing our entire worth of them. And Anna, I am WITH YOU on vintage clothing! It's so wonderful to not even know what size it is--all that matters is how you look and feel in it.
Thank you all so much for your sweet words! Let me know if you end up cutting some tags out. I want to know how it goes for you!
About a year ago, I finally ditched two pairs of jeans that I was holding onto, waiting to shrink down to fit into them. Then I went out and bought a pair that actually fit me, made me look good, and I was happy to wear. And they were a brand using the 20-30 waist sizes, so I had less to compare them to, than looking at the 2-18 brand sizes.
It was incredible. Especially getting rid of the jeans I knew I was never going to fit into. SO much less pressure and guilt.
Yes! Cate! All of you guys are reminding me of points I forgot to touch on in the post. I HATE when people keep their "skinny" jeans--myself included! I don't know why we do that to ourselves. It's like we're held hostage every time we walk into our closets. I wish everyone could LIVE IN THE MOMENT and wear what fits them NOW. Why wait to look and feel good, you know? Easier said than done, of course, but so important.
YESSS!
I *hate* how preoccupied I can get about numbers. This is a fantastic idea. Thanks!
You are so adorable miss! i couldn't agree more, sizes are ridiculous. i wear whatever fits best! xo
Where are my scissors?!?! Loooove!
You are so right...I mostly cut the tags out because they're itchy haha but so many girls do care about the numbers, it's nutty. Since I started buying a lot of 'oversized' things (aka: XL and XXL) I seem to have stopped caring so much about numbers. Plus it's silly to care about numbers anyway...I've always thought (in terms of the scales numbers) that I don't go by what the number is (because as girls we'll never be quite happy with it) and instead to go with how you feel and how your clothes feel.
Plus, sizing is not universal...I can be a 4 in some stores and a 10 in others...so where's the logic in ruining my day by going what the # says?
I need a new pair of jeans but have been putting it off for this reason! I'm gonna try and do it numberless when I go, it's a great idea! It's all about what makes you look good and feel comfortable!
YAY! great idea!
Best DIY EVER! Those numbers don't mean anything anyway. I'm one size and one store and then like two sizes bigger at another. It's a joke.
♥ sécia http://www.petiteinsanities.blogspot.com
You are beyond the most lovely, cute, inspirational blogger that I read! Thank you.
Kelli you are too sweet! THAK YOU for being a reader!! <3<3<3
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Wow. Cannot wait to do this. Liberating. Seriously liberating. Amy-kudos to you for doing this. Things like this can change the way a future generation thinks!
Dropping by from SRSLYLIZ and I LOVE this post, thanks for making my Friday!
Eek thanks so much for visiting, Krysten!! I'm so happy you're here.
You're definitely right about the numbers, but it works the other way too. Because of the fact that I'm underweight and quite tall, EVERYTHING is too big or too short. I go cloths shopping and come home with nothing because nothing fit. It can be quite frustrating when I see a super cute dress but not even the smallest size fits me properly. Thanks for the post though, it is very insightful!
xo, Megan
I agree about the numbers thing too. It KILLS me when someone refuses to buy the right size pants because of the size. Dude, your too tight pants give you a muffin top! Buy the right size, no matter what the number is, and you will look a million times better! And none of us know what the number is on your pants, so we don't really care (unless I see a muffin top or buttcrack...then I care!) lol
This is the cutest idea, and I agree with it whole-heartedly. I gave up caring about what size my pants are a while ago - now I just buy the ones that make me look awesome!
you're awesome! love this.
Here's a funny one, I bought a skirt at Winners probably four years ago and LOVE IT. I wear it like twice a week to this day. It's starting to show a little wear and tear as you can imagine, so I decided to look up the brand name because I had never heard of it before, and see if I could find a new skirt. Well turns out it's a plus-size brand! I was shocked and then kind of went "oh well, it fits awesome". It's not like people can tell! haha
I WISH I could go shopping for jeans and not have to look at size labels. I'm happy with my shape and size. I'm a healthy weight for my height. I don't have any issues about how I look. But shopping for jeans is a nightmare; I'd have them made to measure if I could afford it/be bothered sewing denim.
But, that little rant aside, I'm with you on this. We as a generation place far too much importance on numbers and on how we compare to the "ideal".
Exellent! Gorgeous post, seriously, I love it
Your words and pictures... Thanks for sharing!
I love this idea! So simple, but so liberating.
ha! Funny story: just last night i went to Target to shop for jeans. I have been putting this whole event off because I was hoping that somehow I would miraculously find jeans in my closet. I was down to 2 well-worn pairs.
I spent about 3 hours trying on different styles of one specific size. . Towards the end of the three hours, I decided to go to the rack of my favorite styled ones and grabbed 4 different sizes, tried them on without looking, and dashed to the counter to pay for them. I found out later that I had chosen a pair that was 2 sizes up, and I was a little crushed-- but if I would not have avoided those silly little tags, I would be without jeans. In the end, i got over it and am now happy I have a new pair.
This made my day! Both you and I are not the perfect size but when I look at the pictures above, I think you look beautiful!
Hi Maddie! I'm glad it could make your day! Although I can't help but feel a little bummed by you saying "the perfect size." I think my size IS the perfect size because it's the perfect size for me. I hope you feel the same way about yourself!
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