Yesterday, I did something I typically avoid: I stepped onto the scale. I can’t quite explain what prompted me to climb those stairs, unearth that digital device, and set my bare, unpolished feet on its dusty surface, but I did. After taking a deep breath, I glanced down.
The number that greeted me was shocking. It was disheartening, disappointing, and honestly, it made me feel sad. Strangely, my distress wasn’t because the number was “too high” or “too low.” The issue was simply that I was looking at it. The real problem was that I chose to step on the scale in the first place.
We live in a world dominated by numbers—a world where our self-worth is measured in digits and figures. Consider this: your beauty is often equated with your clothing size or the number on your waistline. Your value can feel tied to your salary, the brand of clothes you wear, or the car you drive. Even our relationships and self-esteem can seem defined by how many likes a social media post receives or the number of “friends” we collect online. Years ago, after struggling with an eating disorder and body image issues, I made a promise to myself to reject this toxic mindset. I committed to simply being me and embracing all facets of who I am.
Yet, there I was on the scale, feeling upset and judging my body—the same body that bounced back after spinal surgery 16 years ago, the one that brought my beautiful daughter into the world three years back, and those “thick thighs” that have carried me through countless races, including 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, and full marathons.
Instead of honoring my body, I was belittling it. Instead of celebrating my physical self, I was criticizing it. Instead of loving who I am, I was chasing unrealistic ideals based on a mere number.
You might be thinking, “You look great! What do you have to worry about? You’ve got the ‘perfect’ body.” But perfection is subjective. While you might see a slim waist and a cute figure, I see the comfort of a good pair of jeans that camouflage imperfections. While you observe athleticism, I see a boyish frame; legs that are too muscular to be considered “feminine” and bones that poke out in ways I find unappealing. Where you see the “ideal body”—perhaps a size 0—I see flaws and shortcomings. This is the problem, not just with me, but with our society as a whole. A society that glorifies filters, Photoshop, and products that promise to make us look younger or slimmer in mere days.
I am not naïve; I know that I can’t change cultural perceptions with just one blog post. However, I do hope to influence at least one girl, one woman, or even one young lady who struggles with self-acceptance due to a size label, a scale reading, or a pair of pants. I want to reach someone who avoids social interactions simply to escape the anxiety of eating or being judged.
So, to the woman who detests her hips, loathes her backside, or despises her “thick thighs,” to the one who wishes to shed 15 pounds before summer or longs to bulk up her slender frame, and to the mom yearning for her pre-pregnancy silhouette—yearning for a flatter tummy or a body free of stretch marks—I want to say this: You are beautiful.
I understand you may not recognize it, you may not feel it, and you might never hear someone tell you that you are beautiful. But you are. Because beauty transcends size or shape. It isn’t defined by the clothes you wear, your makeup, your weight, or even your hair. Beauty is about being genuine. It is strength. It is confidence. It is simply being you—even when you don’t feel at your best, even with spit-up on your clothes, even when you haven’t showered.
So, embrace your weight, your worn-out jeans, and that stain from sour milk as symbols of resilience. Wear them as badges of honor. You are amazing. You are beautiful. You are “perfect” just as you are.
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In summary, remember that beauty is not dictated by numbers or societal standards; it’s about authenticity and self-love. Embrace who you are, flaws and all, because you are enough.
Keyphrase: Embracing Your Beauty
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