The Body Acceptance Movement aims to encourage men and women to love themselves and feel proud of their bodies no matter their shape or size. After all, everyone's body is different, and not everyone can nor should look exactly the same. What a boring world that would be!
The movement has definitely encouraged me to stop looking in the mirror and picking myself apart, as I know that I've been trying to live up to an impossible beauty standard for women set forth by our culture and perpetuated by the media.
Instead of looking at myself and saying, "I'm so fat" or "I'm so gross," I try look at myself each day and say, "I'm so beautiful" and "I'm perfect the way I am." Whether I gain or lose weight, being happy with myself and how I look is a sense of contentment that can only come from within.
For one woman named Joey, being unhappy with her size wasn't a thought that had crossed her mind until one fateful day in the grocery store when another shopper made some rude remarks and assumptions about her size within earshot. What the woman said would have probably made me want to cry, but instead of letting it get her down, Joey decided to write and publish a public letter in retaliation, and everything she said is completely on point! You go girl.
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H/T: The Huffington Post
To the fit woman at the grocery store in Minot, North Dakota, I assume that you remember who I am.
I was the 200-pound redhead who looked like she had just crawled out of bed in the produce section at Marketplace Foods. I was getting some vegetables for my dinner, just like you were. I was looking at my grocery list on my phone… making sure I got everything I needed. In fact, I laughed when my daughter sent a silly text.
I noticed you next to me with your friend. I thought your yoga pants were cute. I need new yoga pants.
So, you probably thought because I was looking at my phone that I couldn't hear things around me. Well, I can. I am pretty talented. I can read a text AND listen to insults. It is my superpower.
So, I heard what you said about me when you thought I wasn't listening.
You told your friend that it is sad that I am the size I am. Who is it sad for?
You told your friend it was nice to see someone like me buy vegetables "for a change." You know, because you have been shopping with me before to see what I buy.
You also made the assumption that I do not care about my health.
That's right, I heard every word you were saying to the athletic guy you were shopping with. I heard you laugh at me and say something to the effect that I should get a mirror to see what I truly look like.
Not that it matters, but what would you have said about me seven months ago? At that time, I was over 300 pounds.
Even at 300 pounds, I was running around with my four kids. I did not hate myself. I ate vegetables and I owned a mirror.
Here is proof.
I wanted to get healthier for myself and I did. So now, I eat a strict Paleo diet most of the time so all I really eat is meat and veggies. That means that, during this transition period, I have the worst wardrobe possible — nothing fits! Everything is loose, so I do not own a lot of clothes right now. I do not need to look perfect, just feel great. Oh, I work out as well, as I assume you do. When I started this journey I could barely do a few minutes of P90X3. When you saw me, I had just finished.
Do you remember me now?
You really should not worry about other people around you.
You do not know about my life, so why would you feel sad? Why, because I weigh more than you do? Because you feel like you have a better life because you have some cute yoga pants?
Trust me, we can all get those.
I know you understand I heard you. I looked right at you right when you were making the mirror comment.
I feel sorry for that man with you who hung his head in shame. He looked embarrassed. That is why I smiled at him when he mouthed the word "sorry" to me.
Although I was irritated with your remarks, you didn't succeed in pissing me off. Although you really tried to fat shame me to the point humiliation, I cannot say you truly succeeded.
You just reminded me that beauty comes from the inside. It will not be long when I look just like you in cute yoga pants next to a 200-pound woman in the produce section. I will just say hi and smile.
I refuse to be like you.
I truly wish you the best, and I am sure we will see each other again. I might even be wearing the same yoga pants.
But next time, keep your comments to yourself.
Respectfully,
Joey
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