Norma Mitchell once said to me “Our stories all tell similar tales; it’s the outcome that makes us stronger; sharing stories makes us stronger. Releasing your own fears to strengthen the weather is a gift we are all blessed with.”
Lately, we have been seeing a women's empowerment movement; From Ashley Graham to Norma Mitchell and Amy Schumer to Demi Lovato. Women who stand up for each other and the rights of their own body. Women who aren’t afraid to show their skin regardless of the size or shape of it. Women who appreciate each other and the art that is their body, their canvas, their masterpiece.
I consider myself a hardworking woman who makes a decent living for herself while still finding time to go to the gym every day and eat “clean," while also allowing myself “cheat days.” I work hard, so why not reward myself, right? But it’s negative people who make it difficult to work hard. The negative people who knock you back down after you just stood up. Do you know what I say to those people? Push me. Because it will only make me work that much harder.
For me, the bullying started when I was in eighth grade. The shape of my body was changing more than others, making it difficult for girls and some boys to understand. Flash forward to now and the comments haven’t changed. At one point I felt like I was trying so hard to fit in to what I thought was “normal” that I became someone other than myself. I became someone who cared so much about other people’s opinions and views on my body -- forgetting the very significant statement that it is my body.
It took me a while to understand that everyone is shaped differently. Everyone is molded in their own way and should embrace their own curves. I finally realized that as long as I am happy with myself, I shouldn’t care so much about what other people had to say. I do not need to defend myself or my body. If I got a dollar every time someone called me “fat” I would be a pretty rich person right now. But it’s those people that have made me the woman I am today. It’s those people who thought they were hurting me that made me stronger.
Telling someone they are “too skinny” is the same as telling someone they are “too fat.” Everyone is battling their own demons inside their head and the last thing they need is someone telling them they are “too much” of something. Too fat, too skinny, too ugly, too tall, too short, too loud. You will never be good enough or someone who thinks you are “too much” of something.
This is the generation of women. Women should be lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down. Take time out of your day to compliment someone. Tell them they are beautiful just the way they are. Allow yourself to be inspired by those women. Lead with an example for your daughters and the future of this world.
It is your body. Own it!
