I used to hate tale of Cinderella. First, Cinderella was cheerful about doing housework. Second, she has tiny, delicate feet. I wear an 11W. My shoe options are limited, compared to other women. My feet need space. My whole self needs space.
It seems like plus sized women are not allowed to take up space. . I recently went to a Sears and the plus size section was dwarfed by the petite section. I went to Bloomingdale’s. They don’t even have plus size attire in the store anymore–“online only” I was told, by the employees, many of whom were plus sized. Macy’s has one third of one sales floor dedicated to plus size clothing, compared to two and two-thirds floors of miss and junior sized apparel.
It’s hard not to get frustrated when whole world seems to be telling you, “You don’t belong here.” Yet, so many women around you are similar to you. How can retailers and the culture as a whole invalidate the lives and bodies of so many women?
Take your space, especially in a world where we’re told we’re too big, too “this” or “that”. Find space for you just to be you–online, at home, on the beach, wherever makes you happy. Your body is the vessel of your spirit and my spirit is big–so it needs a bigger vessel. So many of us have pain and shame over weight and image issues, but out of that pain can come a deep compassion for others who haven’t been allowed their “spaces” either, so use that and heal the world with that big heart and big spirit today.
Every moment we are evolving, growing, changing. New cells are formed, others die. We are in a constant state of change. Have compassion for where you are right now, not where you think you “should” be, but where you truly are. You can evolve and change, but you also have to have a deep love for yourself and where you are today. Part of having body positivity is embracing that you are human in a human body and that you are in a process of evolving.
Kristin West 