I love my body. It's taken me twenty years to finally be comfortable with it, and I stand up for it. When someone comments on my lack of butt or somewhat large hands, I smile and say that I love them. This has never been easy for me until quite recently thanks to some supportive friends. However, for some reason explaining that I'm comfortable with my body usually isn't the end of the conversation. The appropriate response to someone saying they love their body after you so rudely pointed out their disproportions(which all humans have) is NOT to try and convince them to change it. I've been told I need to gain weight. I've been told I need to do squats. I've been told I shouldn't wear short dresses because my long legs make them look "slutty". It's never acceptable to tell someone that they need to change or hide their body based on your preferences. This kind of behavior breeds and encourages self-esteem issues.

According to Statistics on Girls & Women’s Self Esteem, Pressures & Leadership, "53% of American girls age 13 are 'unhappy with their bodies.' This grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen." Even girls that may look flawless to you most likely have at one point felt uncomfortable in their own skin. Why? Because models are portrayed with unattainably thin bodies and recently unrealistic curvy bodies have been trending. Girls starve themselves or wear 'waist trainers' that push their inner organs out of place, all because someone has told or showed them that how they are isn't good enough. Let me be very clear, YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH, and you always will be.

Now this doesn't mean that you can't want to change yourself for you. I like to run because I enjoy being in shape and feeling healthy. I don't run 4 miles of hills with my cross country team for any college boys or because I want to look like Kendall Jenner, I do it to better myself. I do it for me. A common saying thrown around that has always offended me, "Women want to be thin, men want women to be curvy," implies that women's bodies are for men. No. My body is my own, and if I want to be thin or muscular or thick, that is my choice. And I refuse to make that choice based on the thoughts or opinions of anyone other than myself.

Please remember that your body is your own. Cover it in tattoos or become a body builder or dye your hair purple if you like. But do it because it's what you want, not what someone else wants. Human uniqueness is quite marvelous.