Now that American Thanksgiving is here and the gift giving season has kicked off, the one word on everyone’s lips is gratitude. However, when you’re in the non-stop hustle and bustle of the holidays, it’s easy to wind up overwhelmed and stressed out – two feelings that definitely don’t come to mind when you think of gratitude!
Although on the surface we can acknowledge there are plenty of things to be grateful for, sparking those genuine feelings of thankfulness just… isn’t happening. With the weather getting colder, this is also the time of the year when those skin issues we thought we’d finally reduced or gotten rid of seem to magically crop up again.
So I'm going to make an educated guess: you don’t have much gratitude for your skin these days.
Our wrinkles, acne, pores, dry skin patches, fine lines, sun spots–they’re parts of our skin we tend to see in a negative light. It’s hard to find the love for your skin when you look at yourself and only see the “problems” that need to be “fixed.”
Love the Skin You’re In
Instead of scrutinizing every little flaw, let’s take a step back from the mirror and look at the bigger picture. Here’s a reminder of all the wonderful reasons to be grateful for your skin:
Your Skin Protects You
Our skin is our first line of defense against the elements. It fights against bacteria, chemicals, and harsh temperatures all so that we can be safe as we explore the wide world around us. In fact, you can look at dry skin, sun spots, or acne as proof that your skin is fighting against things like UV rays, cold air, and dirt.
Your skin is a representation of strength and resilience… your strength and resilience!
Your armor might get dinged every once and a while, but it’s a beautiful part of who you are, protecting you through every milestone and moment of your life.
Your Skin Allows You to Feel the World Around You
Without your skin, there would be no touch. No way for you to hug your friends close, hold your child’s hand, pet your furry friend, or feel the delicious sensation of putting on a soft sweater or applying a refreshing moisturizer.
Every touch is a small act of caring.
Touch and sensation allow us to connect with the people around us that matter most. Touch feeds the soul, and that nourishing gift is only possible because of our skin.
In fact, your fingertips alone each have over 3,000 nerve endings, all in the skin!
Your Skin Tells Your Story
Every scar, every wrinkle, and every facial feature tells your story. When you look in the mirror, your smile lines are proof that you’ve had a life filled with laughter. Your scars remind you of all you’ve overcome. Your features tell the history of your family and your culture.
Your body is proof of a life well-lived.
Every single mark on your skin weaves together to form the tapestry of you, with every thread a memory or moment worth remembering.
Your Skin is Your #1 Fan
Your skin blushes for you when you’re with that special someone. It gives you chills to warn you when something isn’t quite right. It wears your tattoos, moles, and birthmarks with love. It heals your wounds, produces vitamin D, and allows you to feel nature around you – the cooling breeze, the warm sunshine.
So maybe you aren’t happy with your pores, or your acne, or those patches of eczema. Maybe you can’t find those warm, loving feelings of gratitude right now. That’s okay. You don’t have to feel grateful to be grateful. You know what your skin does for you, and a little reminder might not make the stress of the holidays completely disappear, but I hope that the next time you dwell on a pimple or pore you can see that is just one part of the beautiful, magnificent whole of you.
