Hello, Sparklers! Ashley here from the
Shimmer Sparkle Shine board of directors. I figured since this blog
is brand new, I’d start by introducing myself and giving you the
rundown of how I began working with this organization, what I think
it means to Shimmer Sparkle Shine, and a tiny piece of advice (which
you’ll find I love to give) about self-love.
I started with SSS in 2011 as a
volunteer. Not too long after my first couple of workshops, Ciara
told me that she was meeting with a lawyer to make it an official
non-profit and asked if I would be a board member. I accepted without
knowing exactly what that would entail. I just knew I wanted to help
my good friend out with something I knew she was really passionate
about and trying to get started. I didn’t have any expectations as
to how long or how much I would be involved back then, but I will
never regret making this commitment.
I love coming up with new ideas for
what we can do at our stations in our workshops and planning
fundraisers and reaching out to new girls. One moment that really
solidified for me the reason that I continue to do this happened in
September of last year. I was running a small workshop alone and
during our Good Friends vs Bad Friends workshop we have the girls
make friendship bracelets that they can give to their best friend. As
all the girls were about to reach in for materials, one very quiet
little girl raised her hand and said what if we don’t have a best
friend… It took me a second to gather my thoughts as I looked into
this adorable little girl’s face, wanting so badly to give her a
big hug and bombard her with kind words and advice. All I came up
with in that moment was that she could make a bracelet for a sibling
or a cousin or even for herself because we are our own best friends.
Those girls are the reason that I have stuck with SSS. Those girls
and the women that I still hear in college talking about how they
aren’t good enough in some way.
Part of working with this program
teaching about self-worth and self-esteem has pushed me to always be
trying to practice it myself. I try to talk to myself in a positive
way and love myself for exactly who I am. It’s not always easy, but
I really believe in the power of self-love. I think that we all have
to love ourselves so we can love others more fully. That’s what
Shimmer Sparkle Shine means to me. It means loving yourself
unconditionally and then letting that love burst outward directed
toward everyone else.
Think about all of the people you love
most in this world. You see and know what their flaws are, right? But
do you care? Of course not! You love them for all that they are no
matter what. Why can’t we be that way with ourselves? Why do we
only focus on the bad parts of ourselves? I challenge you all to
think about how you feel about those special people in your lives and
try to turn that love inward. Love yourself even more than you love
your friends and family. And I promise that once you do, you will
begin to see the beauty in every person you interact with every day.
Your heart will open up so much more when you give it the love it
deserves from inside.
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