{"id":17905,"date":"2024-07-30T02:53:06","date_gmt":"2024-07-30T02:53:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17905"},"modified":"2024-07-30T02:53:06","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T02:53:06","slug":"theyre-important-for-people-of-all-ages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shop-cili.com\/?p=17905","title":{"rendered":"They’re important for people of all ages"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Ainsley had felt like an outsider amongst her peers for as long as she could remember. She had memories of standing in front of the mirror in the sixth grade before heading off to school wondering why she didn\u2019t have many friends or look like the women in magazines. She desperately wanted to look like everyone else whom she thought was perfect because in her mind, she wasn\u2019t. Ainsley had tried dying her hair, changing her style and exchanging her glasses for contacts, thinking this would make her likable.<\/p>\n

Fast forward 30 years later, Ainsley was still chasing her dream of wanting to be liked, except now it was finally true. Ainsley had become the editor-in-chief of a lifestyle magazine. She knew that if she couldn\u2019t be the \u201cit\u201d woman in the magazines, then she\u2019d call the shots from behind the scenes.<\/p>\n

Ainsley knew the media industry wasn\u2019t for the weak. They lived by the motto: One day you\u2019re in and the next day you\u2019re out.<\/em> Everyone knew Ainsley took pride in her work and only featured top-notch brands she\u2019d developed great relationships with. But, in the back of her mind, she still had doubts about whether her colleagues really liked her or if they just wanted their brand featured on the magazine cover.<\/p>\n

Her phone was constantly buzzing with requests from industry friends and professionals, and tonight was no exception. She arrived at the industry event a few minutes ahead of schedule, accompanied by Frankie, her photographer, who was there to capture photos and promote the brand she was representing.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the event space, Ainsley was completely amazed by the ambiance. The dimmed, all black room was illuminated with candlelight, as subdued music played in the background. Frankie began snapping a few photos of Ainsley in her sleek black dress, so she could post them on social media. While Ainsley wasn\u2019t on the cover of magazines, she was an icon online within the media industry\u2014a dream of Ainsley\u2019s for as long as she could remember. <\/p>\n

Ainsley scrolled through the images. \u201cThese are awful. Let\u2019s turn on the flash and try again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOK, one second.\u201d Frankie took 10 more images of Ainsley with the flash. \u201cHere, look at these.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, these are so blah. I can\u2019t post any of them. I\u2019ll get ripped to shreds online. Is it the dress or me? Why do I look so washed out?\u201d<\/p>\n

Frankie turned her head to get a better look. \u201cI think it\u2019s the lighting. Do you want to take photos out front?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I want the backdrop in my images. The brand is counting on me to post in their dress.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frankie took 15 more images of Ainsley in different poses in front of the candlelit ambiance. \u201cLook at these. Do you see any you like?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ainsley glanced down. \u201cNo. I seriously must have been blind when I left the house in this dress. I look horrendous. But I have no choice but to post, or we may lose advertising from the client. I guess I\u2019ll settle on this one.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou look amazing!\u201d Frankie smiled.<\/p>\n

Ainsley quickly edited the lighting in the photo as best as she could and posted the image. About halfway through the event, Ainsley excused herself to the ladies\u2019 room. She pulled out her phone and couldn\u2019t believe the negative comments she was receiving on social media. With thousands of followers, everyone had something to say about her. Her face turned completely white, and she turned to Frankie to ask, \u201cShould I delete it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. Why would you delete it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ainsley replied, \u201cBecause look what they\u2019re saying! One person said I look like a trash bag. Another said I\u2019m too old to wear this. Oh look, one nice person says I\u2019m cutting edge. Another said to get a life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frankie put on her lipstick. \u201cThose are ridiculous. But I\u2019m shocked you haven\u2019t become used to these messages yet. You\u2019ve been at the top of your game for years. And, you\u2019re greatly admired; everyone loves you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ainsley looked shocked. \u201cYou really think that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbsolutely! I know I look up to you and so does everyone here tonight. These people online are complete strangers. Let\u2019s go back to the party.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ainsley panicked as she scrolled through the messages. Her hands trembled when she read each one. While some of her followers showed support for her success, others clearly wanted to rain on her parade. She knew building her image in the digital world came with some harsh realities, but she hadn\u2019t fully grasped just how brutal it could be. After all, her online image was meant to be an avenue for expressing her individuality and lifestyle, not a place for receiving derogatory comments.<\/p>\n

She continued trying to block out the chatter of her followers, but the reality was that their voices weren\u2019t going away. Ainsley had trouble focusing the rest of the evening and ended up dashing out of the event early. She told everyone she had a seven o\u2019clock meeting in the morning. But the truth was, she wanted to go home and take a bubble bath, listen to music and escape from reality. Not being accepted by others had been her deepest fear since childhood.<\/p>\n

The next day, Ainsley headed to work with a fake smile. Sitting at her desk trying to make her embarrassing nightmare disappear, she got a message from a friend about heading to a concert that evening. Ainsley knew dancing to music was exactly what she needed to let loose, so she agreed to go. Rummaging through her closet, she found her favourite jeans and a black top. She looked in the mirror one last time before throwing on her shoes and heading out the door.<\/p>\n

Music: Her saving grace? <\/h2>\n
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While at the concert, Ainsley snapped some photos with her girlfriend. She posted the image of them smiling and dancing then immediately shoved her phone into her back pocket and enjoyed the rest of the concert. Music was her saving grace from stress, and she started feeling free again.<\/p>\n

On the way home, Ainsley pulled out her phone and saw thousands of likes on her photo from the concert. It made her smile, and she felt loved again by her fans\u2014that was until she scrolled through the messages.<\/p>\n

Ainsley read them out loud. \u201cLook what this person said. \u2018Do you ever stay home?\u2019 And, another \u2018Wow, you really dressed down tonight.\u2019 Or how about this one, \u2018Did you dye your hair because it looks awful?\u2019 And another, \u2018So cute but so last year.\u2019 I seriously can\u2019t catch a break lately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ainsley\u2019s friend replied, \u201cPeople will always have something to say. Your friends and family are all that matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Self-care is unplugging from the rest of the world.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Ainsley\u2019s inner critic<\/h2>\n
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