As I was heading to the gym of all places this past winter break, I passed by my hometown neighbor, who I hadn’t seen in months since moving out for college. We made the usual small talk about how I’d been and how college was going…when all of a sudden she made the remark, “Wow, you’ve gotten so fat!” I nervously laughed and all I could mutter was an awkward “Thanks…” and we parted ways.
On my way to the gym, I reflected on this encounter. At first, I was furious about her remark. I had worked so damn hard at the gym trying to build my muscle and strength, and all this woman could say was how big I’d gotten? I had been feeling really confident in myself all week, as I was making good progress in my training. My shoulders were beginning to become more defined, and my quads and hamstrings were really showing.
I was having such a good week, and I was about to let this one comment ruin it. I began to feel self-conscious about my body, pinching my thighs and arms and thinking about how she was right; I had gotten bigger. I had even contemplated not going to the gym and just staying home, because hey, you can’t get big if you don’t go to the gym, right?
But then I asked myself: why should her opinion of me matter? I’d seen this woman twice this year, if even that. Why should her words affect me in any way? Then I remembered why I even went to the gym in the first place: to gain muscle and strength but also to just feel good (those endorphins are no joke!). Of course I ended up going to the gym, and I had a really great workout. As I was looking at myself in the mirror, I realized that I was completely happy with the way I looked; I loved my strong, muscular thighs and my defined shoulders and biceps. I realized that as long as I was happy, that’s all that really mattered.
I want to end this by saying thank you to my neighbor, who inadvertently taught me how to love and appreciate myself, even more than I have before. I am now even more grateful for the body that I was born with, regardless of how “big” I get. I will continue with my journey to being strong, no matter what people think or say about my body. You know we all say, “Who cares what other people think?” Well, it’s true. Live for yourself, not for others. We only have one shot at life so let’s make it count.
