I Am Fat, You Are Skinny...We Are Humans

Everywhere I turn I am made aware of the importance that society places on a human being's size.

If you are too heavy it's disgusting, if you are too skinny..it's disgusting. Not only are people outspoken about this, they feel it's OK to judge, laugh, ridicule, and point out our physical differences.

Clearly, not much has changed in the world of media. That's a given. Who I am referring to are everyday people. You, me, the people that make up our families and communities. These are the people that are overtly attacking others based on their outward appearance.

I saw a video on Facebook today that was two bigger women dancing. This was posted for the sake of humor. Look at the fat girls dancing! Let's all laugh about the fact that these two women love their bodies enough to dance openly. Let's laugh about the fact that they embrace their size and are proud of their bodies.

On the flip side. I see posts about women who's hip bones show. How it's disgusting and sickening. Thigh gap is a dirty word. Being a size 2 is gross...and they need to eat more.

So what's right? There is NO right. There is no size that is wrong.

Beauty is not about specifics. What is beautiful to you may not be beautiful to another. That does not mean that it is OK on any level to judge or demean a person based on your own preferences. Furthermore, I would challenge any person to take a look inside to see what makes them want to pick on someone at all.

Being skinny, average, or heavy does not change the integral part of a person. They still have a heart and feelings. They are not immune to hurtful words or acts of bullying from other people.

Social networking has created a sense of entitlement. It is easy for people to sit behind a computer and mock others. Yet I would venture to guess, that if you were in a real life situation similar to what you are posting, you would not have the audacity to loudly mock a person. It's "safe" to do this on platforms that are internet based because there is little retaliation. That does not make it right or OK. You are still referring to someone's family, child, friend, wife, husband..they are real people with real lives.. and you are being demeaning for your own benefit. What is that benefit? How does it serve you?

A bigger question. How does your behavior serve human kind?

This, to me, is no different than discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion..and all the other things that make us unique. You are simply picking out one thing that makes a person different from you and exploiting it.

For some, loving their outer shell does not come easy. They struggle every single day to find an ounce of pride in their body. Dysfunctional eating and body dysmorphia are very real problems. As are things like self harm. Your words can help or harm. It is your choice. You can choose whether to embrace the uniqueness of each human, or you can set yourself apart and live in a very small world.

Despite what your choice is, remember..words are powerful. What you say can cause someone to love themselves a little more or hate themselves a little more.

Photo credit: This is a photo my daughter took of herself. It was a moment of pride at a time when she was struggling to find her happiness. This was her response to bullies.