Instead

Dear Pinterest Users,


Clothing does not automatically look better on thin people.  


I know we're fed that lie in magazines, blogs, tv, movies, and pretty much everywhere else you look, but if you look at these images with a critical eye, you'll find that it's simply not true.  Different styles flatter figures with different proportions - curvy, boyish, petite, long torso, long legs, ample tush, slim butt, large boobs, small boobs, no boobs, boobs that are two different sizes, narrow hips, hips that are large and in charge, and the hundreds of other variations that make us uniquely beautiful.  This is why nobody, regardless of size or figure, has an easy time finding clothes that fit and look great - we used to make clothes to fit our body, not the other way around.


So please, please stop tagging photos or creating boards that are called, "When I'm thin, this is what I'll wear."  Pin fantasy outfits that you'll never wear because they're too expensive or ridiculous, not because you think clothes are reserved for girls who fall into one narrow definition of beauty.  Please start treating your body with some respect.  How about:


Instead of counting calories, count the number of fruits and vegetables you ate today.  


Instead of calling yourself fat, get yourself some omega-3 fatty acids.  They're so good for you.


Instead of criticizing the girl in the mirror, take your fine self on a walk and soak up that natural beauty.  


Instead of looking at the size on your clothes, turn the tag over and check out where they were made.  Think about the life of the woman who stitched those pieces together.  


Instead of learning how to pose for photos so you look thinnest, throw your arm around a friend: it's the best way to avoid unintentional arm widening (it happens to all of us).  


Instead of donning black because it's "slimming," wear colors that brighten your complexion and make you feel fabulous.  


Instead of hating on or envying the skinny girls, remember that they are just as unhappy with themselves as you are - and maybe more.  


Instead of obsessing over what life would be like if you looked different, remember that most people don't care nearly as much about what you look like as you do.  (This took me way too long to figure out.  I will never be tan, large-chested, wavy-haired, or any other number of things, and nobody else cares about these facts.  Maybe I shouldn't either.)


Be nice to yourself, because I bet you're pretty awesome when  you're not posting annoying captions on Pinterest.


Much love,
JM