In my head, I fully understand that there’s no point in comparing myself to others and that it's a waste of time. But there are times that my heart says otherwise, and other people’s lives look so much better compared to mine. For example, when I am washing my underwear that is stained with my period blood, when I go back and forth between Netflix and YouTube at 4 pm in the evening, or when I look into the mirror and see myself wearing glasses without any makeup. In these moments, I feel hopelessly miserable, and going on social media only makes me feel inferior.
On the internet, there are tons of articles like "how to stop comparing yourself to others" and "how to love yourself." But in an era when you can peek into the lives of others (whether these lives are real or not), reading articles about such topics leaves you feeling like “well, it’s easier said than done.”
For better or worse, we might be too interested in other people. Who went where, who wore what, and who achieved what. Our interest always seems to be directed towards others. So what we need right now might be just a sprinkle of narcissism.
“Sex and the City” (hereafter SATC) is a TV series that was aired on HBO from the late '90s to early 2000s. There was a recent announcement that there will be a revival of the series titled “And Just Like That…” It has been years since the first episode, but the series remains to have an appeal for many people. One of its appeals is the four charming main stars. My favorite is the SATC’s sex symbol, Samantha Jones. She loves herself and has zero interest in others. Her focus of interest is always about herself. She basically embodies the concept of self-esteem, and I just respect her for that, especially since I am someone who falls in the spiral of self-hatred by just watching Netflix all day.
If everyone starts acting like Samantha, the world will be chaotic. But with a mind like hers (I know this sounds a bit ridiculous) and a little Samantha on your shoulder, you might be reminded that there is no point in comparing yourself to others and that you might be able to find a new form of self-love, even when you are feeling down, comparing yourself to others, or when you do not know how to love yourself.
So today, I want to share with you some of Samantha's quotes that will boost your self-esteem:
I love you but I love me more.
I will not be judged by you or society.
Let it go. If I worried what every bitch says about me, I’d never leave the house.
Hello, my name is fabulous.
Source:
HBO. Sex and the City.
Translated by Mutsumi Ogaki
Graphics by Emily Mogami
Edited by Emiru Okada