
Dear skinny girl... I know you opened up to me, and told me you felt bad being so thin. I know you were complaining that it was hard for you to gain weight. You told me about the doctor that didn't take you seriously when you were worried about your health. You told me people made fun of you for being so thin.
I listened. I hope I was a friend. But I realized through the conversation I never said, "You're beautiful."
That was my mistake. Because you are. And not because you are a standard of beauty I will never achieve. You are beautiful because you laugh with your whole body, smile with your whole face, and give out complements alongside sage advice. And because you aren't afraid to tell those around you to fuck off.
You're also beautiful because you're athletic, and agile. You're beautiful because your muscles are visible, and help us all appreciate parts of the human body we never see in ourselves. Your hands are delicate and graceful, and when you talk animatedly, you use them and it's like a show.
You also get to take your bra off at the end of the night and not risk bodily injury to yourself or your bedmate.
You're beautiful.
Dear fat girl... I know your story too. I know the ways you hide your thighs and your tummy at all costs. I know that you don't ride the roller coasters, not because you don't want to, but because you're terrified the safety restraints won't latch.
I know your doctor doesn't take any of your health issues seriously because your doctor tells you to diet instead of running a simple test just to check on you.
When you'd talk, I'd listen, I'd relate, and I'd quote the latest body positive quote that knocked down the skinny girl, because we need to realize we're okay even if we'll never have a thigh gap.
But I made a mistake. I never said, we're all beautiful. Not just those of us with curves. And our beauty is not reliant on the disgust of others.
Dear fat girl...you are beautiful. The sexy curve of your back as it folds around your lush ass is incredible. Your cleavage that goes on for days and makes anyone die for a motor-boating trip is hot. Your soft skin that begs to be stroked, is stunning.
Your smile creases around your lips and you can't hide joy if you tried.
Dear me... We've been the fat girl. We've been the hot girl. We've never really been the skinny girl unless we devoted our entire life to it, but that kind of sucked.
Dear me...look in the mirror and see your smile. Look in the mirror and take joy in the fact that with the increased weight, clothes fit you better. Look at how you've grown to realize what makes you happy to decorate your body with, and what makes you feel beautiful.
Dear woman reading this...find your mirror. Look into it and smile, and realize your own beauty. Complement your sisters. But perhaps more importantly, complement yourself. The human body is ever-changing, and we have it for such a short period of time. Our bodies are beautiful. You are beautiful.
Do you want to wear that bright pink lipstick? Do it.
Do you think tattoos are stunning? Get one.
Do you want to dye your hair? I'll lend you my bleach.
Decorate your body how you see fit. Play with it. Have fun with it. Then look in the mirror and smile.
Dear woman reading this...you're beautiful.
~Roxy