Ever since I can remember, I have been skinny. Growing up skinny was difficult but while there were negatives, there were also positives. Growing up, pants never fit me. I remember my mom would always have to safety pin my pants so they wouldn't fall off of me, that's how tiny I was.

As a child, I never really noticed that I was smaller than everyone else, but once I started to get older, I noticed it more and more. While other girls started to wear Hollister jeans and shorts, I was still wearing kids sized pants. Middle school is when the comments and criticisms began, some of the comments I would get (and still get today) are "you need to put some meat on your bones", "you need to eat a burger" and even the more harsh ones such as "you look anorexic". That comment hurts the most and the fact that someone would say that is so upsetting, because what if I actually was?

I eat all the time but I just don't gain weight. Most people see that as a blessing and now, I think it is. There was a time where I was so uncomfortable in my own body, but as I'm getting older I am starting to accept myself for who I am. I still have those days where I look at myself and don't like what I see, but what person doesn't? It can be very difficult at times but I'm getting better at accepting that I am just a skinny girl. People can be so mean about things you can't change. I would get so happy when I would step on the scale and notice that I gained one or two pounds and when I finally hit 100 pounds, I was so happy. Being skinny is nothing to be ashamed of, no matter what you look like on the outside does not define who you are on the inside. If you have a beautiful heart, that will shine through to the outside and as cheesy and cliche as that sounds, it's so true. Many people don't understand that girls that are skinny don't always like how they look, either.

Every girl dreams of being skinny, but then when they see a really skinny girl, they judge them. What we need to do is make sure we are telling everyone that they are beautiful in their own skin. If you compliment someone, you will make their day, so start doing it more. We need to stop skinny shaming and just shaming in general. Learn to love yourself and others and we will grow as a better society and a better world.