Loving You

Yesterday morning I finished reading Portia De Rossi's book "Unbearable Lightness". It took only a few days to read since the book was so interesting. In it she discusses the struggles she went through with trying to stay thin in Hollywood. She thought that it was how she would become famous - that everyone would think she was beautiful and determined by all the pounds she lost and kept off. I honestly read the book in amazement. It's just confusing to me how she thought that at her height and with her body type she should be anywhere under 120 pounds. And when I saw the pictures of her at her lowest weight, it was terrifying.

It pains me to think about the many people that are struggling with their body image. The media puts so much emphasis on what the perfect body is and the ideal weight and size, and it really blinds people. Women start to think that they are fat and undesirable because they're a size 6. They think they need to be supermodel thin and all the models that are super thin are teenage girls who are unhealthy. It's a terrible ideal to try and live up to. Men suffer from issues with their image as well. I remember a guy I was in college with. I always thought he was too skinny when I would see him around, and when I saw him months ago he looked even worse. It actually weirded me out to see him walking because he looked so painfully thin.

I really wish that people could love themselves as they truly are. It seems we always find something to complain about. But as long as you are healthy, whether that means you are skinny or a little chunky, you should be happy with yourself. I often find myself to be too skinny, but I am learning that this is my body. I take my clothes off and appreciate what I see. I still have curves. Just because some clothes fit me a little looser or I can't fit into certain tops is no reason not to love my body.

For anyone who has had body issues. Who have struggled with dieting. Who don't like what they see in the mirror. Who think that a size 2 is the perfect size. Please read her book. Once you start to appreciate yourself, and you identify why you have the image issues you do you will be on the first step to overcoming them.