Today, I woke up to an article by startupskenya.co.ke appreciating my work on my blog and I just want to say thank you for reading, and for the undying support.
I was scrolling down my news feed on Facebook and I came across a picture of an old friend from high school by a page appreciating thick girls. It gave me so much pride to see this because I know exactly how societal standards caused a dent on her; mostly because it is perceived that thin girls are prettier.
I applaud the owner of that concept.
See, I have grown up thin. For lack of a better way to say it. And when I was younger, to be honest, even I recognised exactly how skinny I was. And so did everyone else, I assume. Luckily for me, I had a certain way of thinking drilled into my head by my father that I never realised that some people made fun. I simply never realised it. Or maybe I did, but it never fazed me. My self confidence has always been way up high.
I am a slender girl. I could never bully slender girls. I have family and friends who are thick girls. I choose not to pin their value on their body size.
We live in a society that teaches you what should be, even without validation. I have seen so many girls struggle with weight issues because they feel that they are too big. That they need to lose weight. Even when they are not big at all. All in a bid to fit in with the society and certain groups and classes of people.
This mostly happens because when our girls are young we teach them what they should be. And not from a moral compass and ethics perspective, but basically who they are. We destroy whatever chances they have of forging their own paths by trying to fit them in a box, and force them to be who we wanted to be when we were growing up.
I applaud all girls that beat all odds and choose to be their own persons. To be themselves in a world that is constantly trying to make them what they are not.
Body shaming is a shame. We should know that this type of bullying has psychological impact on people and it should be stopped.
Wake up every morning, look at yourself in the mirror and say, “I am beautiful! Just the way I am!”
Let weight loss and/weight gain be a personal decision. No pressure.
Have a fun filled Saturday, and a great weekend.
Stay confident!