Let’s talk bodies, and no, not like Tove Lo. There comes a point in time when you realize what body type you truly have. The issue of body image has gained more and more media attention recently, and I wish to continue this trend. I can’t help but notice that it seems that society likes to fit all of us into two boxes: fat or thin. It’s this type of binary thinking that confuses, concerns, and angers many, myself included. I find it’s the ones who feel like they don’t fit into either box that tend to struggle the most. The world is full of constant comparisons, and this transpires into people comparing themselves to others. Who’s to blame for this? Perhaps it’s the media and their obsession with body image. To the media: you can’t berate someone for the way they look, and then publish an article a month later about self-love and body image acceptance. It doesn’t simply cancel out your previous words, but this is a separate issue in and of itself. Or perhaps it’s the fashion industry, and their store mannequins displaying the smaller sizes. Looking for a size medium or large? Check the bottom of the pile.
However, the point of this article isn’t to scold the media or the fashion industry, nor is it intended to make those who feel confident in their self-image ashamed for feeling so. I want to applaud those who have reached a point of self-love and body acceptance. One day, I hope to be as confident as you are. It’s a process, as I’ve come to find throughout years of insecurity in middle school. High school held four years of Catholic school uniforms (pleated skirts and boxy button-downs are not exactly the most flattering look for girls with curves) along with tight volleyball uniforms. Feeling good about myself when I wasn’t confident in what I was wearing didn’t help my situation much. However, throughout the past couple of years, I’ve come to a conclusion that I hope will help some.
We all have different body types, and some are unattainable. No matter how hard I try, I will never look like Taylor Swift or Kendall Jenner. If I did, I’d be extremely unhealthy, because my body simply isn’t built that way. It seems like a simple conclusion to make, but on the occasions when I compare myself to others, it’s just a helpful reminder. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m not 100% confident, but I feel like few are. What helps is to concentrate on the good things. What doesn’t help is restricting yourself to a point of unhealthy measures. What doesn’t help is sitting there, looking at pictures of girls in magazines who, with the help of Photoshop, are unrealistically thin. What doesn’t help is looking at the girl in your Spanish class who’s got “the perfect body” and wishing it was yours. This never helps.
If there’s one thing you should take away from this article, it’s this: love yourself for what you have, and not for what you wish you had. I know it’s hard to do, and I’m by no means saying it’s easy. I encourage you to take it a day at a time, and to make it a priority to simply work with what you’ve got. If you’re insecure about how you look, just remember this: you’re not alone.
