Story from a client : What am I?

A client asked me recently, “What am I? Am I the pretty one? Am I the big scary one? Am I the funny one? Am I the strong one?”. She’s a 17-year old that I’ve been training for awhile now and I think she’s one of the most beautiful woman I have ever met, inside and out. She’s passionate about life, very fun to be around and always full of light. She always speak up and stand up for her friends that are bullied, even by the teachers. She always call people out for commenting on their bodies. I really admire her about this because I was not like that at her age.

I understand that questioning who you are, and especially how you’re “suppose” to look is a part of growing up. I’ve asked this question myself and I’m sure a lot of you can relate. Somehow, there is a need for us to be label ourselves to be a certain thing.

I thought to be a woman, I need to look pretty all the time. I can’t be “too strong” because I don’t want to intimidate the boys. I shouldn’t be “too big” because women should be “small and cute”. I want people to like me, so I shouldn’t be too assertive and stand up for myself.

My response to my client was what I would have like to tell my 17-year old self.

“You don’t have to be one thing. Why not be all those things.”