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Happiness Comes In Every Size

I wish for a world where I hear more people say I want to be happy, rather than I want to be skinny.

Liza Thorell

May 31, 2016

University of North Carolina at Wilmington

194

Everyone comes in a different shape and size, being skinny is thought of as the preferred size. Growing up I always thought a part of being happy meant you had to have the perfect skinny body. I now realize that this is an age old correlation that does not equal causation; being skinny doesn’t cause you to be happy and vice versa. Happiness is possible for any body type, not just one type.

Just the other day I was trying on clothes in a store when I heard two girls in the dressing room next to me discussing their bodies. They were saying things like I wish I had your flat stomach and I wish I had your skinny legs, but not once did they say they wanted to be happy. It was almost like there happiness depended on being “skinny” or having the “perfect” body.

For years I have struggled with trying to reach society’s perfect image of how my body should look. I thought by being a size 0 I would have 100 percent happiness. This year however I decided instead of trying to get skinny I would try to be happy. Being happy is a choice everybody can make. When I started the year I wasn’t sure if absolute happiness was possible, but now I know it is. I have never been happier than I am now. There are still days I look in the mirror and wish that I was just a little skinnier. It would be nice to be a little skinnier, but I wouldn't trade being skinny for how happy I am in my life right now. Do not get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with being skinny and there are plenty of skinny people in the world that are perfectly happy, but there happiness is not linked to their physique

I wish for a world where I hear more people say I want to be happy, rather than I want to be skinny. If that were to happen imagine how much of a better world we would live in! When you are happy you do not want to be mean to others because that puts negativity in your life. This would make our world a more kind and pure place that everyone would love to live in.

With society deeming one body type as superior, it can be hard to accept yourself and be truly happy if you do not have the “perfect” body. No matter what kind of shape you are in, your happiness should not be determined by you your size. If you want to be happy all you have to do is to choose to be happy. If my words don’t convince you to choose happiness then listen to Queen Bey herself who says, “Happiness comes from you. No one else can make you happy. You make you happy.”

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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Happiness Comes In Every Size

I wish for a world where I hear more people say I want to be happy, rather than I want to be skinny.

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Or at least try to do.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

2. I will look decent for class.

3. I will go to the gym more.

4. I will go to the library and study more.

5. I will meet new people.

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

2. Disappointed you let it get this bad

3. Distracted: When a 10-Minute Break Becomes an Hour

4. When the Yearning for Sleep Sneaks Up

5. In the words of Lorelai Gilmore "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee"

Oh, so done.

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1. When it's December 1 and you have seven things due, three exams, and haven't slept in three days.

2. So you stress.

3. And cry.

4. Then call your mom to cry some more.

5. After the pep talk, you feel determined to get everything done.

6. But, now you're tired.

7. And really hungry.

8. Suddenly, it's 2 a.m. and you have only written three sentences and your paper is due in the morning.

9. You've made it to Friday... somehow.

10. Then Sunday hits and you find yourself back at the Lib.

11. So you cry some more.

12. But, you fight through the tears to get everything done because you're determined.

13. In the end, you feel on top of the world because you made it through the last week of class alive.

14. But, now it's finals week so good luck.

The ultimate list and gif guide to a college student's brain during finals.

What does the world outside the library look like?

Can I read this entire book tonight?

I should have gone to class more often.

Did the professor even teach this?

What is the lowest grade I can get on this exam and still pass the class?

Should I just drop out of school now?

Finals are ruining Christmas.

Just wrote three sentences so time for a break.

Need. More. Coffee.

What is sleep?

I'm too stupid for college.

Brain hurts.

Time for a Facebook Break.

I think I'm dying.

When will I ever need this information in the real world?

I can't read any of my notes.

I need my mom.

When was the last time I showered?

I need study snacks.

The struggle is so real right now.

"I want to thank Google, Wikipedia, and whoever else invented copy and paste. Thank you."

1. I'm so tired. I need a nap. Maybe I can sleep with my eyes open in class? Or pretend I'm not napping?

2. We have a test today? Why didn't anyone tell me? Did I know this?!

3. Can I quit school yet? It's only October, and I need a vacation.

4. The struggle is so real.

5. I'm so broke. SOS.

6. Stressed? Eat everything you own in your pantry and stuff your face with all your feelings.

7. "Did we have anything due in class today? Homework? Quiz? Test?" "Not that I know of..."

8. I need food. Where is the closest place to get food? I need it stat.

9. This is the longest day of my life. I need a drink, or two, or three.

10. Sleep? What is sleep? What a foreign concept.

11. When someone suggests going and studying in the library, let alone studying in general.

12. When the cafeteria or student center is packed and you can't find a seat anywhere so you literally have to sit in an abandoned corner.

13. When you see someone you used to hook up with. They see you, and approach you; so you have to pretend like everything is normal.

14. When you get your exam and realize you didn't study as much as you should have.

15. When you crush it on an exam or paper that you totally bullshitted.

16. I need a grande, extra strong coffee to get me through today.

17. When the professor announces you have a project due the following week with no instruction on what it's on and how to do it.

18. Is it Friday yet? Where's the weekend when you need it most?

19. It's freezing in here. I feel like I'm sitting in an igloo. I should have brought a jacket or worn long pants.

20. Did I remember my book? Damn, I forgot the book, and of course I need it for that quiz in class.

21. I would pay a million dollars to not go to class today; or actually never again.

22. I need a hoverboard to ride to class. Maybe then I wouldn't be running 15 minutes late to class every day.

23. Oh she/he's cute! I wonder if they're single. Who are they texting? They're BF/GF? I wonder if they think I'm cute. Could they be a potential new bae?

24. Why is there never any parking? I pay thousands of dollars a year for one parking spot to be open.

25. When it feels like you've been in class for an hour and you look at your phone and it has only been five minutes (I'm crying on the inside).

26. When the professor asks if there are any more questions at the end of class and someone raises their hand.

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