I have been plus size my entire life, and it has always been a struggle for me to come to terms with that. More so because of my surroundings and the people who influenced my mindset at a young age instilled in me that being my size is “ugly” or “unacceptable”. My struggles weighed heavy on my conscious and I began to fall into a very deep depression. I never felt complete or that I was good enough. It wasn’t until I met a good friend of mine who reassured me that my physical size can never compensate for the size of my heart. Just hearing that made me feel a little more secure in myself but the battle was not over.
Throughout high school, I constantly had to deal with being compared to other girls and once again I began having thoughts that suggested: “I’ll never get a man” (can you believe a 15/16-year-old complaining about being single). It was not until college that I began to feel more comfortable with my body. Now I can’t tell you where this boost of confidence came from but I can say it was such a relief. Every now and then I do question this confidence and how long it will last and it does take me longer to pick out a short skirt than my friends but it doesn’t feel like a weight anymore.
Loving yourself and loving your body is never a process that comes overnight. It will take time for you to accept that this size is where you are in life. However, exuding a sense of confidence will attract great people to you, people willing to see past your size and make a real connection. Acknowledging that you are plus size is the first step and once you come to terms with that, it won’t be something that you feel you need to hide anymore. Next, you need to feel comfortable stepping outside of your comfort zone. Exuding a sense of confidence will attract great people to you that don’t see you as a size in a clothing store but as a person who is much more than that. Don’t let external factors (family, friends, social media, social norms etc.) define your body for you. You have to live in it, you have to deal with it. Being plus size doesn’t mean you’ve lost your magic, it means you’ve got a lot extra.