Foi assim que eu disse sim à confusão na minha vida

Vou contar-te um pequeno segredo, mas, por favor, fica só entre nós: Não sou nem de perto a mulher que vês no sábado à noite ou no meu perfil do Instagram.

Sabe, aquela que está sempre a publicar fotografias da sua vida maravilhosa? Aquela que tem sempre um grande sorriso na cara e que, aparentemente, nunca está de mau humor?

Sinceramente, essa mulher tem muito pouco em comum comigo.

Yeah, that’s right, I’m talking about that tall, skinny blond whose selfies you keep seeing on your social media feed. I don’t know who she is as I definitely don’t look like that.

In fact, I’ve just spent years mastering the art of looking like her.

E aquele namorado espetacular dela? Parece que os dois nunca discutem. Ele faz-lhe surpresas a toda a hora e parece ser o homem mais romântico do mundo.

Oh, estás a falar daquele tipo que se esqueceu do meu aniversário no ano passado e depois comprou 101 rosas para tentar compensar no dia seguinte?

Só para esclarecer, ainda estamos a falar do tipo que me faz sentir emocionalmente negligenciada a maior parte do tempo?

Devemos começar a discutir a sua incrível carreira ou a forma como está sempre rodeada de amigos?

The list can go on forever, but you get the picture. This woman’s life is apparently every little girl’s dream come true. It looks like she has it all.

Bem, querida, I’m here to tell you that nothing is as it seems.

I’m a professional at faking it, trust me. In fact, I’ve spent most of my adult years trying to convince strangers that my life is perfect.

I’m not just talking about my social media profiles, I’m also referring to the phony smile that’s become a part of me. Never mind the fact that I’ve been repressing my true emotions for as long as I can remember.

Basically, I’ve been living a lie for so long that I’ve ended up believing it as well. You see, I was so hard on myself that I refused to accept anything below perfection.

Bem, que se lixe! The truth is that my life is a huge mess and I’m finally learning to embrace it. I don’t have to be flawless to be fantastic.

Don’t get me wrong: I’m honestly grateful for all of my blessings. I’m thankful e orgulhoso de mim próprio por todos os meus êxitos e realizações.

However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t experience failures as well. It also doesn’t mean that there aren’t days when I hate myself and would jump right out of my skin if I had the chance.

So, I’ve decided to cut the crap. I’ve decided to put a stop to these false pretenses and show the real me to the world.

I don’t look like a top runway model. My mother has never encouraged me, my job has made me reach my breaking point, my love life is falling apart, and I’m pretty sure I don’t have more than one verdadeiro amigo.

There are mornings when I don’t have the strength to leave my bed, there are days when I feel like the biggest loser in the world, and there are nights when I cry myself to sleep.

There are moments when my insecurities get the best of me and when my own self-doubts overwhelm me. There are days when I can’t see my worth no matter how much I try.

However, you don’t notice any of this, do you? Well, now you know. There, I said it. I’m not perfect nor will I ever be.

Portanto, chega de ser tão duro comigo mesmo e de me criticar por ter a audácia de ser humano.

Enough with pretending that everything is okay while I’m falling apart. Enough with laughing when I would actually rather cry my eyes out.

Chega de me comparar com os outros. Chega de desperdiçar o meu tempo e energia a tentar cumprir um padrão social imposto.

O mais importante: Enough with running away from the parts of me that I don’t like.

Don’t get me wrong: I didn’t come here to complain. Instead, isto sou eu a aceitar e amar o meu verdadeiro eue aconselho-vos sinceramente a fazerem o mesmo.

You know what I’ve figured out? Quem te ama de verdade também vai amar a tua confusão e todas as tuas imperfeições. Estas pessoas cuidarão de si no seu melhor e no seu pior, aconteça o que acontecer.

And, what about those who don’t? Well, they should have never gotten the privilege of your presence in the first place.