Hello again, lovelies!
It's the most wonderful time of the year and it is the very start of holiday fitness resolutions and health goals. We all know how dangerous body shaming is in our culture, but we often think it's okay to shame people for being thin and fit. This is a very difficult topic for me to write about, but I feel that it really needs to be talked about more. Skinny shaming is something I've been on the receiving end of, and not to sound like a helpless victim or martyr, I just want to say that comments and negativity hurt more than you may realize. We all have unique and wonderful bodies. There is no one "ideal" or "perfect" body. Who cares? It's no one's business but your own. We can do things like working out and eating well to improve our overall health, but you cannot control if you are born naturally more "curvy" or "thin". While I (and many other people) do work out and try to be conscious of what i (they) put into my (their) body, just because someone looks thin does not mean they have an eating disorder.
Comments such as:
-"Eat a burger!"
-"You must be so weak because you don't eat."
-"Real men love curves."
-"Your bones are disgusting. Bones are only for dogs."
-"You're already skinny."
-"You're so tiny!"
are so destructive. Why do you have to give your unwarranted opinion about someone else's body? Why can't we all agree that there are so many different "types" of bodies, and each of them is unique, beautiful, and powerful. For many people who have struggled or are currently struggling with positive body image, comments like the ones above can bring back scary and dark memories. Everyone's fighting a battle. We all need kindness, not mean judgmental comments. We wonder why there is an epidemic of poor body image all around the world, yet skinny shaming is treated a son big deal.
Regardless of what body type you have, be proud of it. Love your whole self both inside and out. Please be kind to yourself. I know we are often the harshest critics on ourselves, but self-love is so important. You are so special and wonderfully made. You don't need to listen to what anyone else says about what makes someone beautiful, attractive, or lovable.
You are so much more than what your body looks like. The things that make you attractive is your inner strength, your compassion for others, your desire to learn, your individuality. Don't worry about hateful comments. Jus keep being you!
XOXO
Chloe
