Weight Weight... Don't Tell Me!: Reasons Why You're A Babe
Why that number on the scale doesn't own you.
You. You're a babe. Don't even try to argue with me: I've largely spent the past (and contestably most superficial) 24 hours of my life inspecting what it means to be a babe, and whether whatever number bitch slaps you from the scale has anything to do with it, and the great truths I have come up with are: everyone's a babe and... no.
Back story: I went to the doctor yesterday. All systems a go: I'm fit as an electric violin. What troubled me wasn't the exam itself, it was being weighed before the exam even started. Listen, friend, not much embarrasses me, but even I'm reluctant to admit this: I'm that girl who "lalalas" her way through this particular counterbalancing ritual and weirdly requests that she not know the number. To clarify: making self-preserving demands doesn't embarrass me, I'm a vegan, after all; the idea that I've given this number the power to make or break my day, even after all I've been through, is what leaves me disconcerted. But all of that's moot because the nurse didn't hear me and after years of not weighing myself, I found out. And I was right - my day was effectively broken.
The crazy thing is, mere seconds before hopping on that scale, I was fine. My clothes fit, I felt alive in my body...I was even starting to relish my skinny girl "curves." The fact is, I treat my bod like a queen. We've been through a lot together (all this stuff, flailing veganism, gettin' swoll, not to mention all night dance parties, the allure of modeling and make out sessions of yore... what?) and I'm grateful. I like where I am and I like how I look. But I forgot all of that the minute that nurse uttered the higher-than-I-expected number. Outrageously stupid, right?
And the more I thought about it, the more I came to realize that said number doesn't mean sh*t. It doesn't account for my new-ish running muscles. It doesn't include a parenthetical explaining that I have a rich, vibrant life and loftier things than my weight to obsess over, i.e.: art, purpose, Donald Glover. It doesn't laud the idea that I'm a whole lot more fun and easier to be around (ask anybody), than I was in my Skeletor days. It really is just a number. A highly variable, relatively feckless number. And it doesn't own me!
Ladies, nigh is the time of year when we wake from hibernation, shoot out of the soil, mix some metaphors... and start spring-cleaning up every aspect of our lives. Warmth (and skin) are imminent, girlfran. And while no one loves a fresh start more than me, I wanted to remind you all of a few things:
1. I hope you value and nurture your glorious bod, but when it comes to being a babe, your size and shape are happy to take a backseat to your many talents and all. of. your. brains. If you're taking care of yourself, feeling good, and maintaining your weight easily - stay there, and let all of the other amazing parts of you take center stage.
2. Babes are too engrossed in changing the world to work out for 3 hours a day or to meticulously count calories. If you're in a position where you need to lose weight for medical reasons, may the force be with you, sister. Otherwise, do your thang! I'd rather hang out with (and be) someone with dreams and a sense of humor than someone perpetually focused on losing five pounds.
3. We can all be babes. This is perhaps its own topic, but we women tend to be a little competitive. Whether we admit it or not, most of us have wanted to be the hottest girl in the room; the pretty sister; the skinny friend. But there's plenty of beauty to go around, and if you're constantly trying to one up your girls, all you'll radiate is jealousy and insecurity. Propagate love and positive energy instead: always let your women know how fly they are and feel gorgeous as a result.
Yes, spring will be here before you know it, girlfran. But no matter what Cosmo tells you, you don't need to panic about your lack of a six pack. Respect where you've been and how you came to be stunning, sassy you. Live like you're more than a number, because you are. You're so much more than a number.
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