It’s okay to not be liked by everyone. It’s okay not to like everyone. It’s okay not to do everything that the world portrays as success. What makes us great human beings is our ability to respond to people and situations in a respectful manner, not acting on own fleeting emotions.
I’ve always struggled with my self-confidence. I constantly had the fear that I was being judged and ridiculed by my peers. Now that I’m 19, I’ve grown out of some of those fears thanks to my 12-year-old sister, Evie.
After a few years of maintaining my recovery, I decided to study abroad during my senior year of college. It was a way to not let my eating disorder have control over me. But the decision didn’t come before I reflected.
If the summer months are a triggering time for you, if you feel trapped and unable to enjoy those beach days, if you feel uncomfortable or ashamed of your body, please read my story and take heart. Take heart in the fact that there are others who have walked a similar journey and come out on the other side.
Fear creates division, a sense of separateness, and hatred. Love creates connection, empathy, curiosity, a sense of oneness. Goodness knows we need to find our way back to being led by love.
It took me over two decades to realize that moving through the world like a shadow would never get me anywhere. While today, most people can’t miss me (quite literally, as I have rather striking blue hair and several tattoos), I’m still coping with harmful internalized messages about size and weight, just like everyone else.
Many have tried to teach others about eating disorders. But unfortunately, in many cases, our society often places a minimal emphasis on how eating disorders begin and the dangers of them. In this informative piece, one of our contributors shares with RIZZARR audiences important truths about eating disorders.
