health

There’s a movement afoot, and it’s one that has been a long time coming. It’s a movement for overweight people to love themselves, regardless of their size.

I have disliked myself and lacked self-confidence for a very long time, all because of my weight. I have been working on learning to like myself for years; surrounding myself with some very positive and loving people who accept me for who I am and lift me up when I am low.

What I have come to realize is just because I wear plus-sized clothes, it does not mean that I am stupid or ugly or unable to be successful in other areas in my life. My weight is only one of many characteristics of who I am, like hair color or eye color, it does not define me or negate the fact that I am a caring, empathetic, and open-minded person.  Nor does it mean that I should live in a world of shame where I should stay hidden in the shadows of life, wearing a muumuu and waiting until I am thin to be happy with myself. I can wear trendy, cute clothes and participate in activities I enjoy and anyone who has an issue with it, that’s their problem, not mine. I don’t have to carry that negativity or allow it to make me feel as if I am not worthy.

By no means does this mean that I am not going to work to get healthier; just as I will not stop learning new things because I am an adult. Just because I am learning to like who I am does not mean that I can’t also work to improve myself.  I realize there are areas in which I need improvement, but now I can embrace that and accept that those areas and that lack of perfection is what makes me human instead of hating myself because of it, and by liking who I am, that will make it easier and more enjoyable to take care of myself.

I now understand that you don’t have to wait until you get to your destination to love yourself, it is possible and also very important to love yourself where you are in your journey.