To the girl in the sauna wearing a waist trainer and discussing proudly how you had only eaten 200 calories that day, I'm sorry.

I'm sorry that you feel the need to sit in 170-degree heat while wearing a contraption that squeezes your organs and makes it hard to breathe. I'm sorry that you are starving yourself. I'm sorry you are so upset with your body that you feel the need to treat it that way. I'm sorry that we live in a society that demands perfection and shames anything less.

I get it. I've been there. We've all been there. Every single girl and woman has insecurities they would like to change about themselves. Even Victorias Secret models have parts of their bodies they don't like or features they wish were different.

I know we have heard it all before, but it remains true, the characteristics you hate about yourself are the very things other people envy you for. Everything about you is unique to you. Every freckle, every scar, every stretch mark, every curve, and every imperfection is what makes you, you. How boring would life be if we all looked the same?

Your body has a story to tell. A story of growth and perseverance through the hardest of times. Your body keeps going even when you are sick, tired, and worn out. It gets up every day and keeps pressing on, trying to keep you safe and out of harm's way. It repairs wounds and heals scars. It tastes your favorite foods and smells your favorite candle. It holds your emotions and lets them show.

I hope you will learn to partner with your body on this journey and learn to love it. Now, loving your body doesn't mean being complacent and not striving for change. Loving your body means accepting where you are at, but making the healthy changes to be where you want to be. It's getting exercise, drinking enough water, and eating the right things. It's taking long baths, getting a pedicure, or washing your face daily. It's looking in the mirror and saying something positive about yourself instead of something negative. The more you take care of yourself the better you feel about yourself.

To the girl in the sauna, trust the process. It takes a little time to see the results of self-care but it is so incredibly worth it. You will be more joyful, positive, and confident. Take care of your body, it's the only one you get, and it takes such good care of you.