When I first toyed around with the idea of starting my
own blog I hesitated, because I had this idea of what I felt it was supposed to
be (the perfectly curled hair, the thin girls smiling down at the food they are
never eating and an endless collection of bright pink sunsets).
However I
realized that this couldn´t be further from the truth… only I decide what I
blog about. It is my creative outlet and I have full creative control. “The
Unicorn of Fashion” is only what I want it to be and today I want to share my
must-read with you. When I read this utterly inspiring book it deeply affected
me - So if you only read one book this year please make it this one!
Lily Collins – UNFILTERED
No Shame, No
regrets, Just Me
Lily is the daughter of Phil Collins, I hope everyone
is in the loop now? However she has made a name of her own and does not need
that of her father in any way.
Years ago I began to admire her work as an actress and
I surely also began to feel a growing affection towards her without even
knowing her. What I never got to see were her struggles and admittedly I never
thought to think twice and consider that she might have them… just like I do.
We tend to idealize people in the public eye and with the help of the media
many set them up for unattainable perfection, scrutinizing and criticizing
their every moves. What we often forget is: they are just humans with emotions
like everyone else. Probably because this is all we are supposed to see as
Hollywood is a brutal business and surely this perfect idea of a person sells
better!
We often forget that self-doubt and dark thoughts
creep into anyone, because all of us are so good at hiding this particular side
of ourselves. I know I am. However I appreciate the realness with which she
opens up about taboo topics our society doesn´t, but should and needs to talk
about.
At 28 years old Lily is reflecting on the good as well
as the bad in her outstanding memoir which is a collection of
impressive essays. I think we
all understand what it’s like to live in the light and in the dark
(whether we want to admit it or not). Collins shares her own deepest secrets as she sheds light
on the beautiful side of life as well as its at times very dark one. With
brutal, refreshing and much needed honesty she tackles topics that many young women struggle with such as body
image and self-confidence issues or romantic relationships head on. She talks
about her badass mum, the at times difficult relationship with her father
(whether your dad is famous or not I promise you´ll identify), writes a letter
to herself and so much more. “Unfiltered” is a wide spectrum of things for
instance it is funny and hilarious, without ever being rude, but also
heartbreaking and deeply emotional at times.
The fact alone that I am sharing this must-read with
you is huge for me, as sharing my love for this book says so much about myself.
If you decide to read it you will learn unbelievably much about me that not
even those closest to me know, because I recognize parts of myself in about 80
% of the book.
Through reading “Unfiltered” I
found I identified a lot with Lily… and even ended up developing my very own
healthy Quinoa cookie recipe as well (if you´ll read the book you´ll get this
one!). But it is more than the fact that both us seem to prefer drinking our
formerly hot tea cold. Especially whenever Lily wrote
about her self-confidence issues and her eating disorders it
really struck a match with me as I finally felt understood and less alone, like
someone got me ! The emotions she shares are raw and honest. It was just what I
needed and I took away so much from reading “Unfiltered”. You could almost
say it was therapeutic.
Lily learned that sometimes
all it takes is one person to stand up and say something for everyone else to
realize they’re not alone. And she is right! For me this person is her - I
always thought that what I did and thought couldn´t or wouldn´t make any
difference to anybody at all… but this book has changed my perspective. It has
inspired me to speak out. How will we know whether we can make a
difference if we don´t even try to – giving up before you even started is the
real defeat here in my opinion.
Therfore I want to incourage you all - It’s time
to feel inspired and claim your voices and live life to the fullest!
Quotes:
(please beare with me as I
slightly shortened some quotes in order to give you a little insight into the
book and enable you to get them without having actually read it YET )
“The universe gives you
nuggets of inspiration every once in a while, during our most trying times and
if we’re open, and willing to see, they can prompt immense growth.”
“I will never need anyone to complete me. I am
enough on my own.”
“You deserve happiness. You
deserve to be loved just as you love others. You deserve everything.”
“Food should be your fuel. Not
a punishment.”
“I was in control! I was
skinny.”
“There is a greater happiness
to be attained in this world: the happiness of enjoying myself to the fullest
during the one life I have and accepting myself for who I am while I´m living
it.”
“Don´t live a boring life if
you can add a little silly into it every once in a while.”
“Be silly. It’s attractive.
Normal is so boring.”
“Being delicate, dainty
and sensitive doesn´t mean you´re not also strong and unbreakable. I can be
everything. I am everything.”
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