Ahh, February, the month of love and when a plethora of chocolates reach the stores and, as the Muggles say, discount candy after Valentine's Day! For this issue's article, we aren't going to be talking about a physical sense of fashion, but an internal one. That's right, we're talking about self-love here people! I understand that being a Slytherin will sometimes come with a bad reputation, that our cunning just leads to deception. Not to mention, Slytherin has produced some dark wizards and witches in its past such as Tom Riddle.
But! But! But!!! We have also produced some great wizards such as Merlin, so not all hope is lost. That's why this month is going to be focused on turning that inner doubt into something beautiful and to begin loving ourselves! Merlin knows that we only have ourselves to look after us while the world looks after itself.
1. Water, water and, you guessed it, more water!
Come on people, our Common Room is underneath the Great Lake itself! Why is it so hard for us to get our hands on a glass of water every couple of hours? Yes, I understand that this little piece of advice is one that's commonly heard, but for very good reason! Did you know that water helps to flush all of those toxins present in your body? That's right, the more you drink water the more those toxins are just washed away! Say goodbye to those negative thoughts and emotions as you open the door to new ones.
Now, I make no guarantee that the new thoughts and emotions won't also be negative. But I can say that if you drink water until the positive comes it will be well worth it. Just drink in consideration, too much water is just as bad as not enough water.
2. Go outside already!
Storytime, I've personally struggled with some flairs of depression where I don't want to do anything and people always try to tell me to just go outside. They talk about how much better I will feel with the sunlight in my face, how much energy I'll absorb like I'm some kind of houseplant! Insulting, I know.
Well, I'm not here to do that. I'm here to tell you that the point of going outside, even if it's just to lay down in the front lawn, is to get your body some of the vitamins that it needs! Yes, the ultimate end goal is to begin to love yourself and feel happy again, but when you're far enough in the dark hole that you don't want to leave? That goal feels like a million miles away and we have to start small.
Another reason for being outside for 10-15 minutes is for a grounding technique. Sometimes thoughts are hard to run away from, so taking this time to sprawl out in the grass is also a chance to focus on everything else but what's going on in your own head. Close your eyes. Listen to what's going on around you, and name five things you can hear. It also works to name five things that you can see, whichever makes you more comfortable honestly.
Just go outside and get some of that Vitamin D because your body needs it to function as it should.
3. Your safe space is important!
One of my Muggle friends talks a lot about how their police stations are designed to be an area that someone can go if they're feeling unsafe to seek safety.
So I urge all of you to find that one space that you can go to if you're ever feeling unsafe. Mine is in fabric stores. Cliche, I know. Fashionista enjoys being surrounded by fabric. The point being that yours can be anywhere. A tree in the middle of the Forbidden Forest, the bottom of the Great Lake, the Quidditch Pitch, or maybe in your musky attic at home. It's entirely up to you and there's going to be no judgment here on that part.
The point of having this safe space if because everyone needs that one area where they don't have to worry. Now, it becomes a bad thing when this said space if violated, so it will take work to keep it pure. But it's the space that you can go to be you without any kind of judgment! It's the place that everyone should have.
4. Do what makes you happy!
I hear a lot about how much people want to do something, but don't have the means or how they aren't good at it, or even how someone else is doing it!
I say do it anyway. Why? Because it makes you happy. I started out loving the concept of fashion but didn't have a bone in my body that knew what the next trend was going to be. Surely my parents still have a couple of photos of me swearing that scrunchies would make their come back, or believing that wearing two belts at once would never go out of style. I didn't start out amazing at this fashion stuff, but I learned eventually.
The point is, don't give up and if something makes you happy then grab that bull by the horns and tackle life!
Now that all that sappy stuff is done for, be on the look next month for our original fashion statements and the plethora of judgment about it!