First and foremost, you are beautiful (or handsome, for any guys that read this).

You are also perfect, just the way you are.

Nowadays, so many people have insecurities because of everything they see in the media. All the magazines, TV shows and movies all show these perfect size 00 girls and buff guys. That then gives guys and girls the illusion that in order to look pretty or be liked they have to be that size, which isn’t true. If you are that size, it’s fine, I grew up with a best friend who was naturally small. That’s just how her body was made. She could eat all day long and never gain a pound. On the other hand, there are bigger girls who always watch what they eat and can’t seem to lose a pound, so it’s not fair to them to give them the mental image you have to be a size 00 to be beautiful.

So why are we all trying so hard to fit in when we’re already perfect?

Now I’ve never been a size 0, nor do I want to be, because I am proud of my body. Again, nothing wrong with that, I just think I look better with my body now. Also, sometimes you can’t change how big or small you are. I personally have very big hips, and no amount of fruit and working out will change that. You can change the amount of fat you have on your body, but when it comes to physical aspects like that, you just can’t change them. I also don’t have a set lifestyle for myself because I’m a girl and let’s be honest, our moods change a lot. Sometimes I like to work out and eat healthily. Other days, I like to eat a five-pound burrito (which I’ve done), and binge watch Netflix for hours.

Don’t laugh; we’ve all wasted a lot of time watching Netflix.

We all just need to start embracing our flaws. So what if your thighs touch or your stomach gets rolls when you sit down? It happens to all of us. We also need to stop putting others down for being “too skinny” or “too fat.”

If you’re a “skinny minny," embrace it.
If you’re “large and in charge,” embrace it.

Same goes for you guys out there. Not all women want a buff guy with a six pack. On the other hand, not all girls want a guy with a dad bod. I think if someone is interested in you, size shouldn’t matter as much as their personality.

Also, if Victoria Secret bras go from size AA-DDD, why can’t they more sizes represented in the fashion show? More women might actually watch it if they knew it was going to be a wide range of sizes instead of just one small size.

So all in all, the next time you want a medium meal instead of a small, or heck, even a large, I say go for it. Then the next time you go to work out, make sure you are doing it because you want to, not because society tells you to.

Above all else, please, please, please be gentle with yourself. You’re doing the best you can.