call me clueless but I.dont.get it!

Ladies. We are special breed that is for sure. But I am continuously baffled particularly by certain things we do. Why are we so hard on ourselves, and then think that the next girl must have it easier then we do? Hmm..
I am currently in Costa Rica, pretty freaking cool. And although I find myself far from mainstream fashion, I still catch the typical American remarks..
"I need to tan.."
"I'm in Costa Rica and NOT tan enough!"
"Usually I am much darker than this."
"I'm so pale!"
Trust me, I very much like a bronze look to myself as well. But what's with spending all your time laying out for the sole purpose of getting dark?
I'm confused, on one hand I see the point. But on the other hand I want to laugh at myself and all the other girls and go play in the water.
In this culture, light skin is beautiful and signifies higher class. The whiter the better.
How about when it comes to curves? Ha! Everyone has a different answer for that too.
People are funny, that is my point.
Balance is my answer, that is all that makes sense to me.

That bitter taste..

It is amazing to me what hurt can do to a person. You know what I'm talking about, that pain that we try to throw to the back of our minds, until we realize, through some circumstance, that it is still dwelling there. How do we rid ourselves of it completely? Maybe it was created by something we don't even remember. I think that hurt is a number one thing that stands in the way of us. Sometimes I think we put too high of expectations on others, and eventually are let-down. For example, we may look up to a good friend, and take their advice like it is straight from God (not a good idea, ever), and then once we see that they are human too, and let us down like every other human, we become isolated and even bitter. Friends, how do we over come this? It may mean more than a heart-to-heart, it may take time and time again to regain that trust, but I think that it is far greater than hiding hurt.

All things can be made new..