When I started this blog I knew I would have to find a way to positively and delicately engage with people without making anyone feel like they need to change themselves. Frankly, the thought that we need to change ourselves is so engrained in our society that we’ve accepted these feelings of inadequacy as a rite of passage at some point during adolescence.
One of the first things I decided when I began creating this blog was that I was not going to share my clothing size. Here is why; when I was thirteen years old I was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. A few days after the end of seventh grade I was admitted to a children’s hospital where I spent my summer being stabilized. After a few months in the hospital my health had improved, but my mental state was still very entrenched in the disorder. My doctors and parents decided to send me to an inpatient rehabilitation center in Arizona for three months. The goal being to help me learn the necessary tools to overcome the disorder with time. I returned home in the winter and started eighth grade scared and struggling to deal with the world outside the center.
My recovery journey has been full of ups and downs, and I continue to work on my mental health every day. I understand my triggers; I have learned to walk away from situations or conversations that cause me to question my body. Most importantly, I have learned to practice self-acceptance.
On my blog, you will never see me share my clothing size because I need to be respectful of those who might be struggling and knowing someone else’s clothing size could be a trigger. I am not writing this to shame people who do choose to share their clothing size on their blog. Everyone has the right to make a personal choice on this practice. But for me, it is important to honor my journey and be respectful of the journey of others in order to be my best self.
