Cameron Russell: Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model

I love this video... I love this video SOO much...

I love it because when I first watched it, I was at a very impressionable stage in my life. A time when every time I looked in the mirror I picked at what I saw. I picked about what I saw so much that I hated everything that I saw. When I looked at other people I picked them apart. I judged myself on   them and I rated myself. I had the world set out in two groups of people. People that were better than me and people that I saw myself on par with.

It was an incredibly twisted way of viewing the world, and I would feel guilty while I was doing it. I kept telling myself that I didn't want to be this superficial person. That I looks didn't matter. And they don't. Personality matters so much more.

Except, even though I knew that. It didn't stop me from wanting what I saw in other people. It didn't stop the crushing jealousy I felt (and still feel), when I see someone pulling off an outfit that I love and that I could NEVER pull off, and never will because of my body type and shape.

I thought that world was unfair, I felt like the victim and my own mind and way of perception was the bully.

I used to wonder if everyone felt like this... and I guess to a certain extent at some points in peoples lives they do.

When I saw this video, I felt inspired. I felt empowered. I looked in the mirror and tried to see the whole picture and not pick at imperfections.

It taught me a lot about how to view myself, and spoke about a topic that I am very passionate about.

I'm not saying that I'm always happy when I step on the scales now. Not even close. But this video, and ones like it meant that sometimes when I look in the mirror I smile.

And even though that's not a lot. It is still more than before

In Defense of the Fluffy Romance Novels

Okay, I think this may turn into a series of blog posts. There are many things I need to address in my writings to defend the "fluffy romance." I myself am an avid reader of fluffy romance novels. I have read more than I care to count and I want no longer to be one of those people who shamefully hang their heads when asked what they read.

Why is it that so many people say that Pride and Prejudice is their favourite book? I'll tell you why, be cause it is an acceptable response (it is also quite a good book). It's a response that people won't scoff at. Sure you can love any contemporary indie novel that you like, but if you happen to enjoy a light funny romance book, then you're shallow and have no taste? I'm sorry but that's bullshit.

So I'm going to address some of the main arguments that people have against romance novels.

The first thing I want to talk about is when people say that romance books are predictable. OF BLOODY COURSE they are predictable. Life is predicable. I am a person and I can guess at how life will work out in certain situations. People are confusing predictable with realistic of the situation. Also they always say they can tell what's going to happen with the plot and how they are going to end up together, the whole point of a romance novel is that they end up together... just saying.

Now, I want to move on to the polar opposite: that romance books are completely unrealistic, that this doesn't happen to anyone in normal life. Again, you are reading fiction. If you dislike situations that arn't about to occur in real life then don't read fictional novels. These are romance novels and their target audiences are people who enjoy romance and love the utter impossibility and confidence that this type of love can exist... even if only in an authors imagination.

There are millions of types of books out there and just a moment ago (literally just a moment ago) my friend asked me what her favourite books were and I said Spellbound, (by Cara Lynn Shultz, REALLY good teenage romance book) and she said no, "that looks lame" I know for a fact that she loved that book, that we fangirled over that book for weeks... but she can't even post it on Facebook that she likes it because it's lame and everyone is posting "adult books."

Screw that for a joke, I strongly dislike those literary snobs who judge people on what novels they read, well at least they read! Unlike so many my age.....

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So really got on a rant there, anyway I'll post more in defense of the fluffy romance later, have a nice week,
M xx