There can be many heroes in stories, fairytales, and comic books, however there are also everyday superheroes that people look up to for inspiration and the willpower to move on, beyond x-ray vision,or super speed. A major heroine for me, so happens to be Demi Lovato.
Yes, that sounds cliche, but she has been the most genuine hero I have had for many years. When I heard her sing "This is Me," during Camp Rock in 2008, my 11-year-old self fell in love. Fast forward to 2012, when Demi Lovato's "Stay Strong" documentary was released on MTV. I knew she was on a hiatus, but I never heard why. However when this documentary was released, and put herself in the media's evil eye, discussing her eating disorder, struggles with bullying, depression, and self harm is when I fell harder.
Demi Lovato is a warrior, who has came very far in the last few years, and since attending her concert in the fall of 2014, I made it my mission to meet her. During her concert, her main message to the Lovatics was to stay strong and to push like the true fighters we are. However Demi had a request. She said to us, “Everybody knows my story. This is time for everyone else’s to shine."
The summer of 2014 just so happened to be the same year that I hit rock bottom. I had just gotten my Cecostomy Tube placed, my major stomach surgery that left me with a hunk of plastic attached to my stomach. People all around me were questioning me, why I had it, why I had to walk with a cane, why was it so weird looking. Those questions spiraled me into depression. I wouldn't want to go out in public, because I got commented on at the beach, getting called a "real life blow up doll" or "the true American horror story freak show" by a group of men in a car.
Demi’s message of being a warrior is what motivated me. If she could go from self harming, depression, and an eating disorder to having full body confidence, having three tours in four years, a new album labeled "Confident," while still battling mental illness is beyond recognition for how she has impacted me.
I have been struggling, but I have grown just as she taught me. She taught me it is OK to have bad days, but to celebrate the good. My recovery has done a complete 180 from when I saw her two years ago, and with the help of her music, passion, and advocating for what she believes in has been such a massive inspiration for who I have strived to be: a better me.
I am meeting her on July 20, and I want to tell her how much she has impacted my recovery. I cannot fathom the amount of gratitude I have towards her, and I hope one day she will acknowledge that from me, even if it's during a few minutes in a meet and greet.
