Every girl I know struggles with disliking their bodies at some point, whether it be their legs, or their stomach, or thinking they’re fat, etc. Personally I disliked my stomach and I hated wearing a bathing suit in front of people. I was so sad I wasn’t as small as a lot of my friends and my sister.

But instead of beating myself up for something that is in some ways out of my control, I’ve decided to love myself. I feel like disliking my body as much as I did was much more unhealthy than the way I looked and how I was eating, etc.

I’m guilty of listening to the advice from my friends telling me that I am bigger than I actually am. I’ve decided that in order for me to have a healthy mind, which is far more important, that I’m going to have to be happy with myself, and how I look.

And for those of you making hateful comments, calling someone else FAT doesn’t make you any SKINNIER.

I’ve decided to be happy, and that because I love having a slice of cake or a cookie with my tea, I’m going to eat them, and enjoy it. I’ve decided that because I love fruit, and salad and vegetables, and eating them plain and in giant quantities because they taste good. I’m going to eat them.

I am making a promise to myself that I am no longer going to hate my body for not looking like something that it can’t be.

I will, however, try to workout to be HEALTHY. Not to be SKINNY. A healthy person is a happy person.

Healthy is beautiful, skinny is beautiful and big is beautiful. We have to stop looking at people for size and start looking at people for their hearts. And for how they treat others.

So when your friends start hating on their own bodies, or other girl’s bodies, or shaming them for things they can’t control. Take a step back and remember that you don’t have to do that; you don’t have to be a part of that negative energy.

So please, please, stop body shaming, and egging girls, and boys and people on to hating themselves. Because we should be a team, that works on building each other up to be happy, and encouraging a healthy mind, and a positive life. We should be working to make memories, not skipping meals to impress boys, or working out four times a day to feel good about you. Because you are good enough as you are.

I’ve decided I want to love myself for being myself, not being who other people want me to be, the most beautiful thing a person can be is who they are. I’ve decided that I want to spread my love and my happiness that I’ve recently gained on to others. Everyone is important, so don’t make them feel like they are not. Everyone is beautiful so don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t. Don’t forget that you are special.