I was obsessed. With my body, with my clothes, my hair, my face.
I was obsessed with what people thought of me. Did they think I was pretty? Did they think I had a ‘good’ body? I was obsessed with the idea of perfection and naïve enough to believe such a thing existed.
The truth is, it’s not our fault we are obsessed. We live in a society that pushes a narrative so strong it is near impossible to escape. How can we not be obsessed when everything around us tells us these are the most important traits we can have? That it is the most important measure of our worth and success as human beings? As women, and as girls.
I got tired of being obsessed. Of starving, of comparing, of jealousy and envy. Of holding on to old clothes that no longer fit, and missing out on special occasions because I was scared I would gain weight if I attended.
So, I found something else to become obsessed with. And that is self-acceptance. I am obsessed with finding a way to accept myself exactly as I am, and that I do not need to change in order to be happy or successful or loved. I am obsessed with sharing this message. With making sure no other girl misses out on her life because of an unhealthy obsession.
We are all loved. All beautiful. All unique. All special. There is no-one on earth who is the same as us, nor can offer exactly what we have to offer. We are one-of-a-kind, rare and perfectly imperfect. We are human, and we are alive…
To me, that’s worth obsessing over.
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