Friday, May 23, 2014

skinny is a swear word


Want to know a secret? A little trick, one that helped me break {mostly} free of skinny thinking?
I live in a world without scales.

There is no scale under my bathroom sink. I don't go to a personal trainer at the gym because weigh ins suck. I turn around backwards at the doctor's office and ask them not to tell me my weight unless they think I'm unhealthy.

I have no idea what I weigh.

Some would argue having an awareness of your size is important to know how healthy you are. I say, I have awareness! If I go to the store and need a size 4 in that cute skirt over there, I need to go eat a freakin' cheeseburger and extra fries because size 4 is too small for my body. If I have to go put on a size 10, it's time to stop getting take-out so much and go back to yoga.

But I don't know how much I weigh. Because for me, knowing is unhealthy. Knowing gets me thinking. What if I could drop just ten pounds? Yes, ten sounds easy. Oh, I dropped that ten, let's just go for five more. Well hey, that came off quick, how about another five just for good measure?

I do not want to live in a prison made of scales. So I live in a wilderness where scales are unheard of. Because skinny doesn't matter. Skinny isn't healthy. Skinny SUCKS. If you see me on the street, please do not tell me I look skinny. Do not tell me I'm so thin. Do not tell me you wish you were my size.

And I will never tell you that you look skinny, even if you are. Because I don't give a damn about skinny. Skinny is the F-word of my life. As is fat. Size is not a valid compliment or insult.

Tell me you LOVE that color on me. Tell me my dress is really flattering. Tell me I have such great blue eyes. Tell me you love my smile. Tell me my laugh is contagious. Tell me you love how genuine I am.

Tell me ANYTHING besides "you look skinny." Tell me I look healthy--healthy is good, healthy IS a compliment. Healthy ROCKS. But skinny isn't healthy.

Want to know a secret? Something that will help you live in a freer, happier world?

You were made ON purpose, FOR a purpose. And that purpose won't be found in a dress size or a number on a scale. It's found in your passions, your friendships, your marriage, your family. It's found in your community, in the things you sacrifice yourself for.

It's found in Christ. He made you. He loves you. And you know what? He doesn't give a damn about skinny either. He wants your heart and soul. That's it.

Over the next seven days, I challenge you not to use a single adjective about size or weight when describing yourself or others. I challenge you to avoid the scale entirely. I challenge you to think beyond the numbers and see the true person in the mirror.

What is your secret to healthy, happy living? How can I encourage you to think happy, not skinny?

This post was inspired by two recent conversations, one with my mentor and one with a new friend. Thanks to both.

4 comments:

  1. this is so great! thank you for this truth today! :)

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    1. I don't know why I just saw this comment! I'm so glad these words lifted you up a little today. I hope you'll take them to heart from here on out!!

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  2. This is such a great post! I don't have a scale either (excluding while I was pregnant with my daughter - but then I gained 70 and the dr told me I had to be really careful) and I LOVE IT! It freaks me out when people say they have to lose 2lbs and they mean it!

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  3. Love this post, friend! I'll definitely be sharing it :)

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