I was talking with a friend about how much emphasis women (and some men) put on how much they weigh.
It’s mentioned when we are eating something “bad” like, “I really shouldn’t have another piece of pizza.” Or, when we try on new clothes for the summer season, “If only I would lose weight, I could fit into these <fill in the blank>.”
Last words
Do you think when you are old and gray, heading to your final days of life that you are going to say to yourself, “I wish I would’ve lost those 10 pounds.”
I sure hope that is not one of your lifelong regrets. I can understand, “I wish I would’ve told him, ‘I love you’” or “I wish I took that trip to Greece.”
Life’s regrets are about experiences, they are not about our weight or the way we look in a certain size of clothing. So why do people give so much power how they look during the day to day?
Number on the scale
Most of the time growing up and to be honest, some days now, I worry about the number on the scale. If you follow the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, my body mass index (BMI) is in the obesity range. I don't know if I have been in the normal weight range since high school. A time when I worried about my weight the most.
Looking back on my life, whether I was in high school, pregnant or now - my weight isn't something I will regret or worry about. My wishes are more about:
- I wish that Kayla in high school loved herself more.
- I wish she didn't have so much fear about leaving her comfort zone.
- I wish she knew her worth.
- I wish pregnant Kayla also didn't have so much fear about leaving her comfort zone.
- I wish she took more time to relax and experience her pregnancy.
- I wish she knew that not everything can be planned.
- I wish that Kayla today could see how much she has to be thankful for.
- I wish she never cared about her weight and kept doing what makes her feel good about herself.
- I wish she would be more present as her daughter is growing up before her eyes.
But all of these "regrets" that I list above, I hope won't even be on my mind in my final days. Those things that matter today won't matter years from now.
Focus on what really matters.
Don't let today's fears hold you back from tomorrow.
More importantly, do not let your weight, size or how you fit in clothing hold you back from anything.
Your mission in life is to be happy. Do what makes you happy. Feel good in your own skin.
Stay simply confident,
Kayla