You're Absolutely Perfect

Anyone ever heard of the Saturn Return? It's this idea that Saturn comes back to the exact same position as when you were born every twenty-something years, and well—s**t hits the fan. I'm not a huge astrology person (maybe I just don't know enough about it) but let me tell you—some strange shift happens in your late twenties/early thirties and it often times feels like life just becomes one humongous uphill battle. Saturn or not, I think late twenties mark the ultimate entrance into adulthood, and life throws a million little (or big) tests at you to make sure you're ready—maybe it wants check that you can cook a meal without setting your apartment on fire, or that you can do your own taxes, or that you take care of your body and sign up for the gym, or maybe—call me crazy—that you are able to f**k your fears and enter the new decade screaming "I deserve the best and I f***ing love myself"?

I certainly failed those little and big tests on numerous occasions. I cried the first time I had to do my taxes. I once called my mom asking (and I quote): "how do I know the potatoes are boiled?" (My mom hung up on me, understandably). I used to think I'd rather get hit by a speeding truck than go work out, and I certainly wasn't the kind of person who was able to truly, firmly say to herself, "I'm badass. I'm awesome. I love myself."

As much as learning about tax forms and pinching a potato with a fork is relatively easy, the whole "love yourself" business comes around way harder for most people. Why? Well, a lot of it has to do with our upbringing, our background, our social and economic situation—each case is different and governed by its own rights. We all have our own demons we carry and fight, and sometimes it takes a long time to win the battle. And although we each have to face and fight those battles ourselves, I'm here to tell you one thing to (hopefully) help you keep going: you are absolutely perfect just the way you are.

Change doesn't happen instantly—it's like a rock you have to chip away at every day. It's made out of a thousand small, seemingly insignificant moments—until one day the whole damn thing collapses and you feel light again. A few months ago, my best friend called me freaking out that she was going to fail at a new job she got offered. After I hung up the phone, it dawned on me: I would never in a million years doubt her. I would never think my best friend is not enough—quite the opposite, I am so convinced of her absolute greatness that I firmly believe her new bosses should kiss her feet, grateful that she took the job in the first place. And a bulb went on in my head: why the hell do I doubt myself then? Why do I think I'm not good enough, whether it's for a job, or a relationship, or just taking what I want from life and not feeling guilty about it?

Why is it so easy for us to root for other people and usually only see the very best in them, and yet when it comes to ourselves we're always too fat, too skinny, too inexperienced, not smart enough, not rich enough, not good enough... Do you see how CRAZY that is? We all deserve the best—and that includes ourselves. How wild would it be if we started treating ourselves like we treat our best friends? And you know what the good news is? There is enough room, enough love, enough money, enough success around for EVERYONE.

Revolution happens in the now—it's really scary but it's all about being consistent and trusting YOURSELF. So for a change, try looking in the mirror every day and repeating, out loud, "I'm perfect, I'm strong, I'm beautiful, I'm smart, I deserve all the best things in life." It really works—and even if you don't believe it at first, a day will come that you will and I promise you—it will be one of the best moments of your life.

I know sometimes life gets real tough—I've had my fair share of trying times that went far beyond cooking troubles or career doubt. But that's a topic for another time—for now, whatever you're going through, big or small, just know that everything gets a bit easier when you direct your attention to the inside, take care of yourself and show love to yourself first. There's (literally) no one else like you in the world. You're absolutely f***ing perfect.

P.S. If someone could leave a note about how to make eggs sunny-side-up, that would be awesome. I'm too scared to call my mom again.