Listen to this while reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc
I saw this quote the other day and knew I had to write about it. Being yourself and body image are two things that I have struggled with my whole life. I have never been the prettiest, skinniest or smartest girl. I struggled with not being those things for a long time. I can remember being teased for the way I looked when I was in elementary school, and how much it hurt me. My mom recently told me that I would even pretend to be sick so I could stay home. Looking back on this time in my life, I wish that I would've stuck up for myself or walked away, and realized that this bullying did not change who I was.
My freshman year of high school was another struggle for me. I switched schools and so wanted to be liked by the "popular" group. I tried my hardest to fit in by being someone I wasn't. I didn't really realize what was wrong with this until my junior year. Finally, a voice in my head told me to just stop: stop trying to impress people who aren't worth being friends with if they don't like the real me; stop wearing clothes I didn't like; stop barely eating so I could be skinnier; stop pretending and start being me.
The rest of high school was awesome: I was myself. I felt so much more comfortable in my own skin. I was goofy and met some of the best friends in all of my high school experience. I didn't care what the "popular" group thought of me, and I stopped trying to be "cool." Now, I am in college and I am the happiest I have ever been. I love myself and I am confident in who I am. I am sure of myself, my beliefs and my opinions. I have grown so much since those elementary and high school days.
The reason I'm sharing this story with all of you is because I want to encourage people to be themselves, it is not to get sympathy or apologies. I just hope that you will learn this lesson sooner than I did, and can enjoy and celebrate being you. It is something that is so important, and taking this back to the beginning of this article, the person who you are with most in your life is yourself. Some days are going to be great and you're going to feel so confident, but other days you will be your own worst enemy. It is a constant struggle, but one that needs to be fought, and won.
So next time you see a magazine cover, or a group of "cool" girls, don't wish to be them or compare yourself to them. Be sure of yourself, and confident in who you are. Never wish to be someone you're not. Most importantly, be happy and proud to be you.
"Starting right now I'll be strong I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me" --Rachel Platten
