Earlier this week I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and as I did, I came across a video regarding women and how they view their bodies. In the video, a dozen or so women were asked to describe their bodies in one word. “Fat, frumpy, lumpy, disgusting." Those are just a few of the words the women used when it came to how they see themselves.
“Disgusting.”
As awful as it may be, we all do it. Men, women, most everyone is unhappy or able to point out faults when it comes to our bodies. Our skin isn’t as clear as we want it to be, our facial features aren’t symmetrical, our body isn’t built perfectly. It’s almost become normal, the idea that we can pick out every single thing that is wrong with us without hesitation. Not only that but instead of embracing our flaws, we go out of our way to try to change or hide them -- because God forbid, the person who’s a little overweight or has a face full of acne can actually love themselves anyway, right? It’s all about image. If the world doesn’t approve, it’s not right.
“Disgusting.”
I am a firm believer that God makes no mistakes. He creates everyone for a reason and with a purpose. No two people are the same, and that’s a wonderful thing. How boring would life be if we were all created identically? If we all shared the same body shape, the same look, the same laugh, style, and mindset. The differences that we all have is what makes life fun. The idea that I share the blood and genetic make-up as my family members, yet we are able to look so different -- It’s kind of crazy how that works.
“Disgusting.”
I know, it’s so much easier said than done, to love your body despite the plethora of flaws you see in yourself. I too struggle with it, I always have. Growing up was the ultimate challenge when your tower over all of your classmates, including the boys. When you have boobs in the 5th grade, when people hardly knew what those were yet. I have always liked to consider myself “thick built” when it comes to my broad shoulders and wide stature; that’s just how I was made. I was never the dainty little flower or the girl that all the boys wanted, and for years I struggled with that. I was,
“Disgusting.”
At one point in my life, if I had to pick one word to describe my body, I probably would have told you the same. If other people didn’t like how I looked, there was no way I could either. Now, as I enter adulthood and grow as a person, I am slowly learning what it means to love myself, to love all of me. To not only accept, but embrace my flaws, even if others don’t.
Regardless if you’re 50 pounds overweight or 30 pounds under, if you have thunder thighs or chicken legs, if you tower over everyone or if you’re two feet shorter than you want to be, I promise you are made just how God intended you to be.
I hope you never use “disgusting” to describe you or anyone else, and I hope one day you are able to love yourself and who you are, flaws and all.
