Phenomenal You Series – Mariel

Last but not least is Mariel, my friend of over 10 years, my voice of reason often through gmail, and one of the very few friends that has managed to grow with me. We’ve had a long distance friendship pretty much since we graduated high-school, yet she never seems to skip a bit. Ever meet someone that in an instance puts you at ease? Makes you feel completely comfortable in your skin, and is often down for whatever? Well, that’s my Mariel. An all around phenomenal woman. Check out what she has to share below.

Quick Tidbits
Name: Mariel
Age: 26
What’s your passion?: Still considering my options.
Fun Fact: I’ve been known to “borrow” traffic cones in the past & keep them in my car to reserve future parking spaces.

So let’s get to the nitty gritty! Describe your self-esteem level. Are you a Beyonce- Flawless? Are you struggling with your sense of worth? Or are you a little in-between?
Definitely not King Bey but, somewhere in between normal is fairly accurate. Although some days I may feel like the Queen of Sheba and others I may not even want to walk by a mirror, most days I start by being grateful for simply waking up because without it I wouldn’t be able to continue loving myself or working towards it.

Did you have a New Year’s Resolution set? A goal you’re hoping to accomplish this year geared towards bettering yourself?
Yes, I try not to have a New Year’s resolution because like most people I fall off the wagon a week or 2 after. For health purposes, I plan on dropping some lbs (as cliche as it may sound).

For as long as I can remember, since we’re almost and grey, you’ve always had a relaxed, care free kind of attitude. A sometimes “Fuck it, I’m just going to do, say, wear what I want” mentality. It’s something I have always admired! Is there ever a little voice in your head that causes you to doubt your decisions? How do you work against it?
Absolutely, I’m slightly ashamed to admit it but, there is a thought that says, “Do I look crazy right now, bad crazy?” That goes back to the feeling of wanting to be accepted. In the past I’ve fought against it with some rebelliousness (standing out or going against the grain). Now it’s more so about my comfort level. Comfortable either in my skin and embracing whatever combination of garments I’ve chosen or comfortable in flats so, the soles of my feet aren’t beating like hearts the next morning.

Who’s to blame for woman’s low self-esteem: Society, her surroundings, or herself?
Personally, I believe it can be a combination. I’ve experienced it from family, dance instructors, strangers etc. It’s easy for others to point out what is “expected” of you but, they’re not aware that by expressing this to girls at a young age is breaking them down before building them up.

What words of advice would you share with your 16-year-old self about self-esteem, self-worth, and of course, surviving these transformational years?
I’d tell her, she’s enough… she should not be concerned with outside expectations and that by focusing on what really matters she will get to wherever she liked to be. I’d also tell her to embrace her quirks because there is no one like her and trying to be anyone else is much more exhausting.