An opinions piece by Devan Pietrzak, Writing Editor
When I was in the darkest place of hating my body, desperately grasping at any quick tricks or tips that could make me lose a few pounds, I heard this quote that completely changed the way I placed value on my body...
“How much did Florence nightingale weigh when she founded modern nursing? How much did Rosa Parks weigh when she took a seat on that bus? How much did Malala Yousafzai weigh when she started writing about the lives of girls in Pakistan living under Taliban rule. You don’t know? That’s because it doesn’t matter”(Martha Beck).
In hearing this quote I am reminded that despite what society has ingrained in women’s minds, our true values do not lie in our appearances. In focusing and exhausting our energy towards fitting into society’s mold of unattainable perfection and beauty, we are literally wearing ourselves too thin! We are wasting precious energy and passion that our world sorely needs.
These beauty standards thrusted upon us by our patriarchal society were only created to hold us back, to distract us from making real sustainable impacts, and, most of all, to reduce our sense of self-worth to a number on a scale. The next time you consider skipping a meal or trying out the next new diet craze, ask yourself what your true end goal is. Why do you truly want to lose weight? Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a healthier version of yourself.The dangerous mindset, however, is equating attaining a certain body type with happiness. As cliche as it may sound, true happiness begins when you accept yourself in whatever stage your body is in at this moment.
It can be terrifying to walk away from the superficial standards in which we were told would make us worthy. The road to attaining a healthy relationship with your body isn’t easy and straightforward - a year ago I might have thought it to be impossible. While it's easy to say “just change your mindset” when viewing your body, the reality is that it's not always that simple. That’s why it’s important to seek outside help when you need it. Oftentimes, serious body image issues and eating disorders are brought on by deeper psychological emotions. Asking for help is scary, however, there are professionals that can help you to face these emotions. Anytime you feel weak and weighed down by all that you think you must be, remember Rosa Parks, Malala and Nightingale. Think of how these women are not revered for their physical appearance but by how they loved and used their strength and passion to give others hope.
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