I'd Rather Be Dead, Than Be Overweight...
1:44 PM Edit This 0 Comments »"I'd Rather Be Dead, Than Be Overweight"
What a profound and humbling statement made by a morbidly obese teenager on the Oprah show just now. I sit here watching this on television and identifying with these teenagers on so many levels. The level of hurt, anger, resentment, loneliness, and depression that all of these teenager's are dealing with. It's a bitter slap in the face at something I don't think about every waking second... like I used to do. Seeing all of these kids dealing with this saddens me to the depth of my core and is a reminder that I was one of the few lucky ones. I wish that I could do something, be an advocate, or help each one of them... or any child that has to deal with this. Unfortunately, it seems to be an issue that is becoming more common with the youth of today. There are many factors that contribute to the issue and for each child the reason for being overweight is individual and personal. The bottom line is that it breaks my heart and I hate to have anyone feel the pain that I felt. I know the literal pain -- the kind that stabs deep in your stomach and makes you want to die. The worst part is knowing that these kids are feeling the same things that I felt for years. I don't want anyone to ever have to experience those feelings. It makes you feel like you are useless and subpar to the rest of humanity. You wake up in the morning thinking, "I hope I can get through today without someone making a fat joke", or "Why can't people see the real me? It's just the outside they are judging."
I think that overall my experience growing up has made me into a person who strives to look for the inner beauty on people. I'm not perfect and sometimes I am guilty of being on the wrong side of the street. However, mostly I feel an overwhelming urge to protect and help those around me. The thoughts that anyone might even have one tiny thought that they aren't as good as someone else breaks my heart. It's just not true. The scars run deep and the hurt is like a river that seems to never lose it's current. Constant reassurance and compliments only make a dent in the damage that happened over 27 years. I just hope that each of these kids can find peace, a way to live a healthy lifestyle, and happiness. They each face an uphill battle where the statistics are against them.
This issue is something that I think about constantly as I think I'm probably meant to do something about it. At this point, I don't know if it's public speaking, advocate, or counselor... however, I am confident that the answer will come if I keep seeking with an open heart and mind. Then I can help and hopefully make a difference so others can avoid the pain, rejection and strife that I dealt with for years. I believe that our mind is our strongest weapon. If you put your mind to anything with enough determination, then you will be unstoppable. It's easier to say CAN, then CAN'T.
"All your life you are told the things you cannot do. All your life they will say you're not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you're the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be this or achieve this. THEY WILL TELL YOU NO, a thousand times no, until all the no's become meaningless. All your life they will tell you no, quite firmly and very quickly. AND YOU WILL TELL THEM YES." ~Anonymous
Peace & Love,
~Kimmy
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