'You need to eat more,
you're so skinny, I wish I was tiny like you and, you can have some of my fat'
These are comments I hear on a daily basis. Exhausting just reading them is it
not?
Crohns Disease is my
daily affliction, it does not matter how much I eat. I am aware that I am
anorexic. I wish I was at a healthy weight. And, sure cast your extra weight my
way, I would most definitely welcome it!
These utterances do not
upset me as much as the actual glares and stares. I have heard larger ladies
often speak of the 'looks' they receive, tinier ladies also receive them, and
they are just as injurious to our self esteem. The remarks and looks of disgust
take an emotional toll on a person after a period of time. SO much so, that for
myself, I was agoraphobic for 4 LONG years. I did not want to egress from my
home. I felt disgust and compunction at my body and the glares would only
confirm the hateful feelings and thoughts I was having towards my body and
self.
If a person is
underweight or overweight, I think we should want to uplift them, mawkish them
if you will!
I am underweight, this
does not mean I hate food (in fact, I love food with a passion), it does not
mean that I do drugs (which is one of my personal favourite surmises) nor, does
it mean I have a mental disorder. It simply means I have a disease, one that I
have little to no sovereignty over. I am still the same person on the interior,
even if my exterior looks as though I have an eating disorder!
I am thankful for my
disease (most days), it has made me a stronger person, made me 'slow down' what
was a fast paced life, and really internalise and think about what is favourable
for myself.
I think you will find
most people with a weight issue have a genuine underlying medical condition and
cannot control their weight and mentally torture themselves enough, that it is
not warranted or needed by others surrounding them.
If someone is overweight
or underweight, does it really matter? Does it affect your life? Is it your
place to look on in disgust and an invitation for you to make judgements? No, it
most definitely is not.
Just like an overweight
individual might feel disgust with themselves, so do tinier people. A simple
smile, or kind word, can change that persons day, from one of despair and utter
hatred towards themselves, into making them believe in themselves and that it is
going to be a magical day.
Remember, everyone is
beautiful, and true beauty runs much deeper than any external appearance.
