I Wish I’d Known Then

That beauty isn’t something you earn by shrinking.

That eating when you’re hungry doesn’t make you undisciplined. It makes you a human being in a body.

That confidence doesn’t come from finally liking what you see in the mirror. It comes from turning down the outside noise and slowly learning to trust yourself ~ even when you don’t.

It comes from being kind to yourself. From choosing to learn from experience instead of assuming you’ve done something wrong. From taking a breath and knowing that what’s in front of you might actually shape you in some bigger, meaningful way.

That you can change your body without punishing it. And actually, that is really the only way.

That you can care about how you look without making it everything.

That your worth isn’t up for debate ~ no matter the day, the number on the scale, the size of your jeans or what anyone else says, or what anyone doesn’t say.

I wish I’d known that food could be a source of nourishment and strength instead of stress.

That hunger wasn’t something to fear.

That loving food doesn’t have to be shameful.

And that one day, your body will crave quality food ~ not because you forced it to but because you are able to listen.

Most of all, I wish I’d known that being at peace with myself would take time ~ and that it would always be worth the work.