Girls are weird. I'm a girl, so I can say that. I'm talking specifically about the weird obsessions we get with other girls that we've never met before. We learn their names, find them on Twitter and Instagram, comment on how pretty/stylish/cool they seem and (usually)  never even meet them in person. I'm not making fun of the girls who get obsessive with strangers, because I'm equally as guilty, but it's definitely weird if you stop and think about it. Today, I was scrolling through a girl's Instagram profile and commenting on how awesome her life seemed. To be fair, I have actually met this girl in person, so even though it's still creepy it's a little less creepy now. As I was looking at all her pictures, envious of her seemingly perfect life, I was reminded of a statement that I've heard only once before in my life, but is one of the most influential statements I've ever heard: "If I asked you to list the things you love, how long would it take you to name yourself?"

As girls, we are almost programmed to doubt and criticize ourselves all the time, whether it be something we actually believe about ourselves or just to fit in. It's a crime if you graciously accept a compliment without saying something along the lines of, "Oh my god, stop, I don't feel pretty/thin/smart at all... thank you, though." And like I said before, we idolize people we don't even know just because they take good pictures. It's crazy that we can (and do) obsess over strangers when most of us aren't capable of loving ourselves fully. I know it sounds cliche, but you're never going to truly be happy with yourself unless you love yourself and all of your flaws. It's okay if you need to be reminded every once in awhile; that's partly the reason I'm writing this article, because I forget to love myself on a daily basis and I know a lot of girls my age who are the same way. 

Next time you're hardcore stalking your latest girl crush and lamenting the fact that your life's not as cool as hers, remember that her life probably isn't that awesome either. She has problems and issues just like you, maybe even worse, and she might not love herself as much as she should. Get off of her profile and remember that you're awesome, too. It's okay to be obsessed with yourself--not in a vain, shallow way, but in a way that makes you proud of the person you are. Loving yourself is the most important way to be happy.