Branches Book

BRANCHES

am not alone. I found resources about radical self-acceptance and I started to employ what I was learning. What was also incredibly helpful was understanding my relationship with my body, noting when I feel most and least confident. Then, I began observing who I surround myself with and what their effect is on my body image. If I note that I am friends with someone who fat shames me, it might be a good idea to surround myself with people who empower me instead. I didn’t realize until recently how my relationship with my body can significantly influence how others perceive their own bodies. Through talking with other women about this issue, I discovered that women look up to other women that express body positivity. One of the most important influences on my journey to body positivity is my sister. In an interview with her, she said, “I would tell my younger self that when you are the happiest, and most successful, and most loved, and have the most friends, has nothing to do with how thin you are! Loving yourself and being confident is the biggest gift you can give to yourself and those around you. People will be inspired by your self-love! Self-love is a choice no matter what you look like.” The practice of radically accepting your body no matter what you look like is not an easy path. There are certainly days where I look at myself in the mirror and am disgusted by what I see, but what is most important is that I am able to grow from that and am learning to love myself a little bit more every day. Everyone deserves to look in the mirror and feel beautiful and valued. When I was younger, I would refer to myself as fat in an attempt to gain validation from my peers, looking forward to their cries of protest. My comments were often met with, “OMG, no don’t say that. You’re not fat! You’re so pretty!” Now, in my attempts to normalize the word fat as a neutral descriptor, my casual references to myself as a fat person (or a person who has fat), are met with the same, “You’re not fat, you’re beautiful!” To which I ask, why can’t I be both fat and beautiful?

If you or someone you know might be struggling with an eating disorder, here is a list of resources to find help and further information:

https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/ - National Eating Disorders Association offers educational materials and prevention programs and sponsors Eating Disorders Awareness Week. Toll-free helpline: 1-800-931- 2237 https://www.edreferral.com/ - Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center is an international organization offering a comprehensive database of eating disorder treatment professionals.

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