One morning, I woke up at my mom's house and found my sister in the living room. She invited me to do yoga with her, and I accepted. While we stretched, my older sister wanted to discuss ways to take care of our bodies. However, I made a rude comment about myself, and my sister's response was to place me in front of the mirror and tell me "Your body is a temple. You should listen to it, take care of it, and appreciate it every single day.” Nowadays, I stand in front of the mirror in my bathroom and confront my body's imperfections. I see my acne, stretch marks, and scars. I often wish to change my appearance like a Mr. Potato Head doll. But I know that's not possible.
 
As I am learning to become more comfortable with my body, I have discovered a connection between myself and the beauty of nature. The sharp, thorny twigs remind me of the lining of my old surgical scars, the long branches with flowers mirror the shape of my crossed arms, and the wild, circling mushrooms make me think of the tiny, round spots on my face. These natural surroundings remind me of myself - beautiful, imperfect, and flawed - just like how I think about my body. Despite this, being in nature has always brought me a sense of peace and acceptance.
 
There were times I thought back to what my sister said, which I didn't fully understand at the time, but now I do. I am starting to be more kind to myself. It's not always easy, but with time and effort, I am committed to loving myself for the person I am, and hopefully, someday, it will be worth it in the end.