Louise's Lovely Links #1

I've read so many interesting and inspiring posts this past week that I just had to share my favourites with you. I usually share links in my Sunday Faves posts, but as there have been so many brilliant posts in light of Plus Sized Wars, Jamelia, and #WeAreTheThey, I thought it was better to give them their own post this week. I did promise this post would be up yesterday, but I was being held hostage by stomach cramps, so sorry they're a day late!

Plus Sized Wars, #WeAreTheThey, Jamelia, Body Positivity, Et Cetera. 

♥ Callie Thorpe, one of the lovely plus size bloggers featured on Plus Sized Wars, told her personal story this week, hoping people will see her as a person, and not a bad role model or statistic. 

♥ Becky Bedbug wrote two brilliant opinion posts, Jamelia and #PlusSizedWars and #WeAreTheThey, on her new blog Curvert.

♥ I enjoyed reading Leah's thoughts on #PlusSizedWars and #WeAreTheThey, and she also penned a fantastic post entitled: you are not your dress size.

♥ Sera reflects on being bullied and body shamed from an early age, and talks about the affects it has had on her life and health.

♥ Charlotte talked about Plus Sized Wars from her perspective as a plus size fashion student, and followed it up with a second post that's also well worth a read.

♥ Becky, aka Mrs Bebe, shared her Plus Size Position.

♥ #WeAreTheThey by Em's Trends.

♥ Let's change the conversation: an open letter to Jamelia's ignorance.

♥ I am plus size and I'm not ashamed.

♥ Fat and fabulous despite what people think and say.

♥ Body confidence: it's okay to be shaky.

♥ Becky Brown asked ten plus sized bloggers what body confidence means to them, and compiled their answers in one interesting and inspiring post!

♥ I adore these 13 pieces of body positive artwork.

♥ 7 photos that prove women of all sizes look hot in bikinis.

♥ 14 women reveal why they wear make up.

♥ Fashion doesn't just let me express myself; it makes me feel powerful.

Other Awesome Blog Posts

♥ Harlow, Renee, and Kayla look stunning amongst the roses.

♥ Sammi's Friday Favourites is full of gorgeous clothes and accessories this week

♥ Trees' Easter weekend looked like so much fun!

♥ The Pink Haired Princess's Skinny Dip novelty bag collection is amazing.

♥ Becky (lots of Becky's this week!) from Milk Bubble Tea shared her 10 basic blogger photography tips.

History

♥ 20 badass women who destroyed stereotypes and inspired future generations.

♥ 20 provocative images highlighting the fights women face.

♥ 24 incredible historical moments in photographs.

Health

♥ Spring has sprung and it's suicide weather.

♥ I found the 16 things people in chronic pain want you to know completely spot on. If you know somebody who's living with chronic pain, please pop over and give it a read. It might just help you to understand what they're going through every day.

Animals and Nature

♥ 21 cats being cat-shamed for their crimes

♥ 22 albino animals because albino animals fascinate me, for some reason.

♥ These 30 mischievous bunnies getting up to mischief made me laugh... and also made me wonder why their owners are so ignorant.

♥ A little girl born without feet, and a German shepherd pup missing a paw have become inseparable friends.

♥ This video of a face off between a dachshund and a crab is oddly entertaining.

♥ Have you heard about the veterinarian who killed a cat with a bow and arrow- and then bragged about it? I'm absolutely horrified. The woman has since been sacked, but whether she will lose her license and be charged with animal cruelty doesn't appear to have been decided yet.. In my opinion, it shouldn't need to be questioned; anybody who causes pain and suffering to an animal, who kills an innocent animal for fun, should be punished harshly. I doubt she will be.

♥ The last male northern white rhino must now be kept under armed guard 24/7. There are only five northern white rhinos left on the planet. Five. Poached to the brink of extinction for a little bit of ivory. How can anybody value a piece of ivory- a body part- over the life of a living thing?

♥ George, the Ginger feline, likes to walk around on two legs!

♥ While this cute kitty looks after sick animals at an animal shelter.

♥ I want this teeny tiny bearded dragon!

♥ 13 beautiful fields of flowers around the world.

and, let's end on a light-hearted one...

♥ The 31 most sarcastic things that ever happened. You can't go wrong with a bit of sarcasm.

Thanks for reading!

Day 25: Something Someone Told Me About Myself That I'll Never Forget

Once again, I've been slipping behind with the May blogging challenge. Frustratingly I was all set to catch up last night...  and then the internet connection crashed. Typical. I wrote a few posts down on paper, so I'm going to attempt to make up for lost time now.

So, Saturday's post was supposed to be 'Something someone told you about yourself that you'll never forget. (Good or bad).'

I've been told a great deal about myself over the years, and learnt information about myself I never knew existed. I've been given my fair share of insults, and compliments in my time, and even told a bunch of stuff applied to me that simply wasn't true. However, growing up as a painfully shy girl with low self-esteem, zero confidence, and zero body confidence, anything negative ever said to me always stuck. I always believed the insults and negativity were true, and often allowed them to torment me for years afterwards. When I was about thirteen, I had been suffering with painful aches and pains in the bones in my legs and arms, and was eventually referred to a local hospital for their opinion. I remember going to the appointment with my Dad, and going in to a consultation room where two female medical professionals were waiting. Looking back, I think they were physiotherapists, not Doctors. Separated from my Dad by a curtain, I was asked to undress down to my underwear in front of the two women. I was mortified and extremely self-conscious, and one of the women took one look at me and bluntly told me 'you're a little fat', before continuing to interrogate me about my diet, and lifestyle. I was utterly humiliated, and devastated- and of course, I believed them. They made no effort to be subtle or kind to an impressionable teenager, and instead of investigating my pains, they body shamed. I travelled the whole way home in silence, and in tears, and refused all offers of food for lunch from my Dad. He just didn't know what to say. That one appointment made me hate my body more than I'd previously done, affected my confidence, and made me so ashamed of my appearance. All the thoughts I'd had of myself had been confirmed. I was FAT, I was UGLY, I was WORTHLESS.  This one encounter was largely responsible for almost a decade and a half of self-consciousness and self doubt. I wasted my teens, and half of my twenties hating myself, my body, my appearance, and believing I was a worthless freak. Looking back, I am angered by how these women made me feel. What professional, qualified adult would talk so harshly to an impressionable teenage girl, and knock her confidence while she's at an age when girls struggle with body image and identity? They could have discussed their 'concerns' gently, or taken my Dad aside for a word... No wonder teenagers develop eating disorders, and become obsessed with diets and exercise, and hate their bodies when authority figures make them  believe there's something wrong with how they look. Do you want to know the best part? At the time, I wasn't even fat! I was a five foot five thirteen year old with womanly curves; chubby at best... but oh, did I believe that she was right, and I was FAT. They never did help me get to the bottom of my aches and pains, and blamed growing pains. They offered me a couple of sessions of physiotherapy, but in reality it was just exercise masquerading as treatment. I have to go back to that hospital for physiotherapy and hydrotherapy for my back today, and thankfully, I've not yet been body shamed, but I still hate going there.  I've never forgotten what they said, or how they made me feel... but (almost) fifteen years later I'm finally learning to love and accept who I am.