The old saying goes, "if you don't have anything nice to say, be quiet." Thus, I keep my mouth closed. However, I was also raised to speak my mind and take no crap, so I have a few things to say.
I've come up with a phrase that I believe everyone should use when others start to comment on their bodies: MYOB - Mind Your Body.
When you make comments about the rolls on my stomach and the thickness of my thighs, scattered with cellulite and hair, mind your own body.
When you side-eye me because I'm wearing short-shorts and a tank top, exposing my bra straps for you to see, mind your own body.
When you want to make a comment about how acne-covered my face is because you've noticed that my makeup doesn't look quite right on my ivory skin, mind your own body.
When you see my hair pulled up in a bun, or held back with a head band, or tied up in a thousand small pony tails because the dirt in my hair bothers my face (and it's only dirty because between working and sleeping I don't have time to take a shower), mind your own body.
When they notice the gap between your thighs, the ribs across your chest, and want to tell you to "eat a hamburger," tell them to mind their own body.
When they see your wheelchair and wonder how you got to be where you are, tell them to mind their own body.
When they see your crinkled, curly hair, and want to reach out and touch it, tell them to mind their own body.
When they make comments about how you're Latino or African American or any other race and attach a stereotype based upon your body, tell them to mind theirs.
When they see your arms, legs, and neck marked with tattoos and your piercings are proudly displayed and they want to make comments like "how are you going to get a job with all of those tattoos," tell them to mind their own body.
Do you see where I'm going with this?
See, your body is your own and it doesn't belong to anyone. You don't owe anybody your body. Your body is a temple and it should not be marked and desecrated by comments from others just because they have an idea or notion about what YOUR temple should look like. You don't have to listen to anyone when they make comments about your body. You don't have to take their comments to heart. You absolutely should wear your body proudly, in all its glory, so everyone can see it. You should never feel ashamed of the body the God (or whoever you believe in, for that matter) gave you.
When someone has anything to say about your body, good or bad, you can tell them MYOB: Mind Your Own Body.
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