If anyone loves food, it’s me. And if anyone craves unhealthy food, it’s me. I can easily shove three pieces of cake in my mouth and not feel a thing. But it wasn’t always this way.

In middle school, I went through the basic puberty that girls go through, meaning I was a little pudgy. But I didn’t mind, I was happy with my life and with food in my life. Plus, my mom was constantly telling me I would grow out of it, and I eventually did.

I grew to 5’7’’ by my freshman year of high school and was the skinniest I’ve ever been. But even though I was so tiny, my self-esteem was at an all time low. I was so self-conscious, thinking I was too small. I got a lot of comments on how skinny I was, how my hip bones stuck out, and how no one knew where the food went that I was eating. But I often got comments like, "You look disproportionate” as well. I started to hate my body for being so skinny. But then I went to college.

I dual enrolled my senior year of high school taking all college courses. I still played volleyball for my high school during the fall semester until the season ended. But even as my volleyball career ended, I continued to eat like a volleyball player, and it was simply inevitable that I became the shape of a volleyball. My freshman year of college I gained 20 pounds. (Watch out upcoming freshmen; the freshmen *insert scary number* is real.)

Over the course of that time, I started to feel so insecure about my body, and I became jealous of girls with tiny little figures; I was obsessed with trying to become like them.

During this time of insecurity, I found myself looking for approval in all the wrong places. My acceptance is not something that I get from other people; it’s given to me by The Lord. Sometimes you still need a little help and small reminders, which is where my best friend came in.

She was constantly reminding me that life is too short to hate your body.

Life is too short to hate the body that God fearfully and wonderfully made for you.

Life is too short to not eat that delicious looking cupcake or those golden fries.

But life is also too short to not be proud of your body.

Life is too short to not exercise and stay healthy.

Life is too short to not eat your veggies.

Life is just too dang short.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we’re all going to die someday. You don’t have all the time in the world to live, so while you’re at it, live happily. Wear that revealing bikini, that little black dress, and those crop tops because you want to, not because of society’s version of beauty.

Plump, skinny, tall, short, athletic, hairy, or whatever – it doesn’t matter. The most important thing is loving your body for what it is.

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14

So eat healthy, exercise, and treat your body like it deserves.

But don’t forget how short life truly is, and that it’s always OK to treat yourself (and not feel guilty about it).