It all started on a plane trip. The turbulence was so strong that I prayed to the universe for an hour that it would not be the end.
And at that moment, I couldn’t help but tell myself that I hadn’t lived for the past 6 months.
If I were to die, my last memories would be how many times I went to the gym. The few calories I managed to eat without being too hungry and my two workouts a day.
But then I realized that these weren’t really the memories of a life well-lived.
I don’t know when it was when I became so obsessed with my body. All I know is that for the last few years I’ve been convinced that if I wasn’t slim and beautiful, I wouldn’t deserve to be loved.
I know it’s not my fault. We live in a world where we all believe in correcting even the smallest imperfection, that the only way to find love and happiness is to perfect our physical appearance.
But I am gradually unlearning all of this. At one point, I forgot to enjoy and live life to the fullest. I forgot that no matter what I hoped to get from exercising, true love didn’t care.
In reality, love does not take into account your thinness.
And if love takes into account your thinness, then it is not real love. True love ignores appearance, because true love is not about physical attraction. And if it does, then this is not the one for you.
Love doesn’t want your appearance to become an everyday obsession. Love wants you to do things that animate your soul, that give you meaning and purpose.
He doesn’t want you to spend your time counting calories, he wants you to enjoy the finer things in life.
Love doesn’t take your body fat percentage into account, but it wants you to be healthy so that you can spend the maximum number of years by your side, making many memories together.
True love wants you to love your life, and wants to share and enjoy it to the fullest with you.
Love knows that you have more to offer the world than your body size and shape.
Wait for that kind of love, a love that doesn’t stop at outer beauty. And if that kind of love doesn’t happen, love yourself enough that you don’t obsess over your waistline.
Don’t let anyone convince you that you would be a better partner if you were just a few pounds lighter.
Because real love will be on your skin no matter your waistline.
