I'm really worried about how toxic my generation seems to be lately. I'm hearing all kinds of horror stories from (mostly) girls who have been treated horribly in relationships. I realize there's probably always more good than bad, but some of the things that are happening are awful.

We are more than just our bodies.

When you're growing up, you're told that some boys are only after one thing. You take it lightly, but what happens when it's true? Your innocent mind assumes that people must have the decency to respect you enough, as a human person with feelings, to not try and take advantage of you in that way. By saying you're not interested in me as a person but want to use me for personal gains, you say that you don't see my whole being but only the shell that I animate. You don't actually care about me.

I am exhausted. I am so tired of being seen as an object. I have feelings, a lot of them. No one enjoys being harassed. All I'm asking is that you respect the basic human dignity that we all share.

It's even worse if it comes from someone you care about. Picture this scenario: You start dating someone, you really care about each other, until one day it suddenly falls apart. You wonder what you did wrong, you might think "Maybe if I give them what they want, they'll care about me again." No. If they ever cared about you at all, they wouldn't put you in this situation. Don't give all of yourself away to someone who couldn't care less about you. Knowing that it didn't mean anything to them but holding onto the hope that the person you fell for is still there somewhere... I can't imagine what that would do to a person. It would destroy them from the inside out. It could make you see yourself in horrible ways. It sounds worse than any version of hell that I could possibly think of. You can't make people care. You are worth so much more than that.

I'm really grateful that I could learn this through others before it ever had a chance to happen to me, I left that situation a long time ago. Others might not be as lucky. If there's one thing you can take away from this: It's better to gather advice from the experiences of others than to learn it from personal experience. I wouldn't wish for this to happen to anyone.

I am more than my body. I have so much more to offer the world. I am an artist. I am a female guitarist in a band, which isn't common to begin with. I'm a redhead, which is only about 2% of the world, a gamer, and a nerd. I'm passionate, honest, and loyal. All of these things combine to make a unique individual. No person is exactly the same. We are all very complex individuals with our own stories. No one sees the world in the exact way that you do. No one has the exact same sense of humor, memories, likes/dislikes, or pasts. Every single person has so much value. You are more than just your body and deserve all the respect that goes along with that.

I'm one of those people who tries to still see the good in people, no matter what. Maybe it's hard to let go of the kindness that I saw in them before they changed. Maybe I don't want to see cruelty in the world. Maybe I'm in denial, that it's actually their true colors. Maybe I'm sheltered, or "too nice," but everyone has a breaking point and I will no longer allow myself (or my friends and family) to be taken advantage of. I will laugh with you through the good times, and comfort you through the bad. I will do anything and everything in my power to make you happy and be a best friend to you. So for you to say that my only use to you is my body is one of the most insulting things you could possibly say. To anyone. It's such a waste. I don't know why anyone would want to ignore every other aspect of you, or how they even could.

As women, all we ask is that you look deeper and actually get to know us for who we are. If people took the time to see that, they wouldn't see us as objects. We have strong hearts, minds, and voices. So do you. Let's all respect each other.

(Note: the cover photo is from my Instagram post about my weight loss journey, trying on prom dresses. Not meant to be inappropriate in any way.)