As of late I have been feeling more stressed out than usual. I hurt my ankle a few months ago at the gym, and it gradually got worse to the point that I basically had to cut out most of the cardio from my routine. Since last year working out has become a huge part of my life. Hurting my ankle like this has beyond stressed me out, made me feel like I am not reaching my goals. It doesn’t help that I am extremely hard on myself, and always have been. It’s a blessing and a curse.

I know most of you are thinking, what’s the big deal? You workout all the time and you look fine, stop saying that. And you are 100% right. I should be happy with my body, and I should love all of the imperfections, but this is 2014, and realistically, I don’t know one woman who is happy with her body. This realization makes me very sad.

I started thinking about all of these things when a friend of mine told me her young daughter wouldn’t wear a bathing suit because she thinks she is fat. It hurt me that she would think that, but more importantly makes me question what kids are seeing on a daily basis in the media and all around them.

The truth is these insecurities can happen to anybody. It doesn’t matter shape or size, it just happens..and it’s not easy being a woman. Today’s society makes us think that if we’re not like the women in the magazines, we aren’t attractive or worthy.

We all have our good days and bad days. I try to remind myself that no matter what I am living a happy and blessed life, and that’s way more important than what’s on the outside.

Sometimes we need a little reminder to love ourselves a little more. This post wasn’t about my ankle injury but more about having your down days where you just don’t feel beautiful. Days when you compare yourself and your happiness to others.

What brings me peace is knowing that we are all fighting a similar battle in our own way. We all have insecurities, and skeletons in our closets. We all, at the end of the day, just want to be happy. That is what should paramount everything.

Sometimes a reminder puts it all into perspective.