 | ||||||
 |
 | |||||
|
|
|
 | ||||
 |
 | |||||
|
I have this desire to look at the other girls in the change room after gym class.... Comparing your body with the other girls is a common part of growing up, and does not mean anything about whether you are gay or straight. During puberty, your body begins to change and develop both physically and sexually. As you may already know, this can be a confusing time. Many girls wonder if their body is changing the way it should. Making comparisons in the change room is an easy way to get an answer. What comparing in the change room won't tell you is that everyone is unique. Your body will change at its own pace, perhaps faster than some of the girls, perhaps slower than other girls. That's OK. Accept your body and be patient with it. Remember, beauty is only "skin deep". Beautiful looks and an attractive body do not make you a better person. The size of your breasts doesn't determine whether you are a real woman. Who are you on the inside? Who are you becoming? That's what counts. Are you a person who is trusted by others, and who keeps her word? Do your friends know they can rely on you? Do you care about others? Do you stick up for those who are treated unfairly? Do you stick with a difficult job until it is done? How do you deal with your feelings -- do you ignore them or do you face them and work through hurtful things? That's what counts. Do not be envious of others' physical characteristics. Being a woman is about strength of character, not about the exterior stuff that society treats as being so important. Accept your body for what it is and what it is becoming. And discover who you are inside. Discover your inner strengths, your abilities and gifts, and the femininity that you were born with. Note: if you have specific concerns about your body (pain, unusual bumps, etc.), speak to your medical doctor. |
 | |||||
 |
 |
 | ||||
