I’d say it was probably around the second grade when I had first been shamed for not being as petite as the other girls. It had never really been something that was brought to my attention, of course as a little eight-year-old, that shouldn’t be an issue on your radar.

I let those comments roll right off my back as I was still too young to really value what the other kids had to say. Soon enough, I was in the fifth grade when I discovered I could no longer fit into any size of Limited Too’s jeans. I remember this day vividly as it came with flowing tears and intense anger.

Although, it wasn’t enough to make me actually change anything about myself. I went through middle school hearing the occasional dig at my body every now and then.

When I reached the tenth grade I took matters into my own hands and became obsessed with working out and nutrition.

Although, almost too obsessed. Counting every calorie that was entering my body as well as working off each and everything I ate.

After that phase fizzled out, I went about an average lifestyle, and actually looking better than I ever had; at least I thought so. But what-do-ya-know, that nice ol’ F-word was still thrown my way. It blew my mind how I thought I looked good and here I was still being belittled due to how my body looked. Unfortunately, this is something that so many of us females have in common.

As a rising junior in college, I have seen girls go to extreme measures in hopes to achieve the thinnest body they could. And it’s almost as if we can’t even blame them. Us ladies will sit on Instagram for hours scrolling and be scrolling through the photos of airbrushed models and celebrities with million dollar bodies and we will actually pin ourselves against them. Do we not realize how ridiculous that sounds?

We actually think inhabiting another person's physical body would be better than the one that the universe has hand-crafted just for us?

I don’t want to sit here and preach self-love because it is so so so much easier said than done.

But when you make the decision for yourself to truly and wholeheartedly love who you are and the skin you're in, it will undoubtedly change your life. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for loving yourself and still pursuing change and a healthier lifestyle.

But, you cannot strive for change simply out of hate and anger.

So, from one girl to another; enough is enough.

Why do we hold so much value in someone’s opinion when they try to tear us down?

We know better than that. No one and nothing can fulfill you the way your own self-love can. It is so easy to stand in front of the mirror and pick out every single flaw. Why is it so hard to stand in front of the mirror and compliment yourself?

But, honestly I understand. There’s times when you legitimately convince yourself that there is nothing you could compliment even if you tried. The bright side? That is absolutely false.

We need to shake this idea of “perfect” from our heads and just be our damn selves. Stop picking yourself apart and start picking yourself up, girl.