as you get older you start to wonder what happened;
those kids who were full of happiness and joy are now shadows of their former selves.

maybe it is the fact that they have been pushed so far down,
they don't want to get up.
maybe it is the fact that they have been scarred with far worse than some will ever seem to understand.
maybe it is simply the fact that life seems to purposefully hurt you,
and you are always the victim.

adults may say kids cannot be depressed or have mental disorders,
and those who do are blind to reality,
maybe your eyes will open one day and you will learn to love.

care a little harder,
fight a little longer,
learn to grow from a seedling into a beautiful flower,
a sapling into a big sturdy tree,
a baby into a strong individual.

and then you will feel at peace.

-jhené.a.

It’s not often we come across,
A larger model placed upon Cosmopolitan cover.
An international magazine that are known for breaking the boundaries,
A magazine for women of all different sizes and colour,
The first magazine to outlet and break the stigma
Stories of unmarried women not only having ***, but also enjoying it

Their articles discusses the reality of women’s sexuality
Behavior, ****** encounters, health, and beauty
Their continuity to highlight body positivity,
With ranging from all types of sizes,
Promoting **** lingerie and swim suites,

A world of beauty and trends,
A platform to embrace all cultural backgrounds
A magazine which isn’t based on one particular kind of style,
Articles based on overcoming anxiety and regular exercise,
Encouraging women to endure their identity
Aimed for all different ages and disability,

Yet their heavily pointed at by society,
Told their promoting obesity,
Down with the plus sizes they say,
Vocalizing their disbelief,
I don’t want my daughter or girlfriend to look this way,

Unless they look like Kim Kardashian then that’s ok
Conflicted by a standard of beauty,
How Plus size models are perceived by the media,
Victimized by the size of their thighs and belly,
Told their appearance is inflicting bad habits,

Yet most billboards are promoting alcohol,
Yet most television adverts are selling fast food,
Most magazines are selling us an illusion of a 'Happy free life'
Articles on how you can get your life together in two minutes
A belief of how diets can lose weight in only 6 days!
Get rid of those dark circles and wrinkles using this cream!
How can we not forget the articles which sell us the fairytale wedding?
A life with no regrets is constantly forced down our necks
Yet we go along with it all,
We don’t pick holes and threaten

Models with ******* addictions,
Athletes who regularly use steroids,
Politicians who lie and betray,
Articles on celebrity’s downfalls and break-ups,
Wide-spread covers of the perfect toned body
Pornographic images of ***** and fannies,
Yet we point our finger at Cosmopolitan,
Rather than seeing a beautiful women on the front cover

The idea of a perfect plan for life is one that’s floored in every material in every way.
It begins much like a seed.
In good soil with good intentions and seemingly the right influence.
Sun for photosynthesis, nutrients to supply the food for growth and water.
Enough water to rehydrate invigorate but also it can drown.
The water you see isn’t merely water it’s the plausibility and possibility
we strive for and see in our faces every day.
“Be who you want to be”,
“the sky is the limit”
“the only thing holding you back is your imagination”.
But what if that isn’t it.
What if being who we want to be gets put down,
changed and made to be realistic.
Like a child following the instructions on their Lego instructions:
they put M8 on T3 and piece that together
with pieces 5, 6, 7 & 8 etc.
until their puzzle is complete.
Complete to resemble the same thing that the other kids build,
or the same one that their parents before them built.
Built to last, built to fit, built to be…
NORMAL.
No one is told to believe
That they should believe in their writing and encouraged to chase a dream.
Instead they’re told to choose a “real” dream.
One that benefits society.
One that asks no questions, changes no formats or builds and pushes no borders.