Great. Now that I have your attention, I want to bring light to a serious problem that we need to put an end to.
This weekend I was returning something and I couldn't help but eavesdrop on a conversation that was going on between a mother and her daughter.
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"Honey, you need to lose weight."
My heart felt so heavy for the girl who was on the receiving end of this horrific phrase.
I couldn't help but turn around and see the mother who said this. When I looked back I noticed a young girl not a day over 15, and she was already incredibly thin as is. Her eyes welled up in tears as her mom had embarrassed her in front of several strangers that were all standing in line.
Even though this wasn't any of my business to listen in on the conversation, I couldn't help but start thinking what that poor girl has to hear on a daily basis and all of the internal conflicts she faces each and everyday.
I even began to think, this girl is nowhere near 110 pounds; do I need to cut weight? Of course I don't need to cut weight, but this woman's harsh, negative words stung not only for her daughter but the girls around her who had heard each word.
We live in this fabricated society, and most girls are incredibly naive and ignorant to the fact that most of the women they see on reality TV and or on their Instagram explore feed are all items of Photoshop, plastic surgery, a good makeup team or all of the above.
Nobody in real life looks the way these women do, and we need to start educating all women that it is impossible to attain perfection with your looks, and it is incredibly unnatural and unhealthy.
I truly cringe at the fact that I was born into a beauty obsessed society where you have to look perfect at every moment or you are considered "ugly" or you have to have a size two in order to be liked by men.
Ladies, first off — you don't need to look perfect at every moment. Not only is it too much work some days, but you owe it to yourself to embrace your natural beauty. Also, every body size is different. Some are straight, curvy or athletic. You don't have to be a size two to be liked by guys.
What happened to the days where girls could be comfortable going out in public in athletic wear and no makeup fresh off a workout?
What happened to not having a size, weight and height standard for women?
What happened to the days where we didn't count every carb that we ingested and didn't guilt trip ourselves?
What happened to the days where girls were comfortable in their own skin — embraced their stature with full confidence and didn't have to worry about what others or the media portrayed them as?
If you are a parent, friend, brother or sister — I beg that you don't deteriorate the confidence of young men and women on their bodies.
Never tell someone they need to lose weight when they are already undersized for their age. Did it occur to you that this is why eating disorders are a thing?
Never judge someone on the food they eat — we are all different. Our bodies all work in their own way. Some of us need more fuel during the day than others. NEVER make someone feel uncomfortable about eating because it's a natural human function — everyone has to do it.
Never forget that words cut deep and you never know what people may be going through — so it is important to always speak kindly to one another. Be positive and gentle when it comes to each other's physical features — everyone is different.
Embrace difference; end conformity.
