As we enter that time of year when we navigate the sometimes tricky waters of coordinating with less-than-responsive family members and squeeze into a relative's house for a small feast (grimacing face). While I do love Thanksgiving, I know first hand how contentious it can be for curvy girls like you and me, it can also be a time filled with potential pitfalls and unkind remarks.
Thanksgiving and Curvy Confidence
Thanksgiving often brings about gatherings where little comments or jabs can linger, threatening to spoil the joy of the day. However, I believe that this season provides a unique opportunity for us to cultivate self-confidence and express gratitude for the people we hold dear.
When I was younger, about the age of 10, I was at our family Thanksgiving, everyone else was piling sweets onto their desert plate from a huge platter of cookies, fudge, and mini-cupcakes. But when I indulged in the sweets, an aunt "jokingly" called me a "little piggy." It hurt. She never apologized. I slinked off to the bathroom, and after shedding a few tears, I looked at myself in the mirror and realized—I looked fine. I didn't look skinny but that was okay. Ten-year-old-me was curvy. That day marked a pivotal moment for me. I could be curvy and sad or curvy and happy and eat a darn cookie!
Facing the Holidays with Confidence
As time marched on, Thanksgivings came and went. I got married and experienced holidays as part of a couple, then as a mother. Concurrently, my writing career blossomed, reshaping the way I approached these festive occasions. Life's journey is a tapestry of experiences, and looking back offers a chance to reassess and be fully present in the current moment.
Remember those moments from your past, the roles you played, and let them guide you toward making new memories. Every single day is full of little moments you don’t realize that you may hang onto for the rest of your life, and Thanksgiving is no exception. What is exceptional is that Thanksgiving provides opportunities for little moments, especially with those you may not see often. It's a chance to show them the beautiful person you are and how grateful you are for the unique person they are.
Gratitude and Thanks: The True Focus
Let's shift our focus to the essence of the holiday: gratitude/thankfulness. Grateful and thankful are synonymous in my book. At my home, and I'm sure in many others, it has become a little ritual to share what we're thankful for. While sharing what you are thankful for at the dinner table is a common sentiment, cliché as it may sound, it doesn't mean it's not genuine.
So, be grateful for what you have and for those around you. Wait. I'd like to suggest a little addition (to you and me both)—be thankful for who you are. It's easier to love when you feel loved, and the most important place to feel loved is within yourself.
Share Your Stories of Love and Self-Love
Holidays have a tendency to sneak up on you so its important to just face them head on and remember to take some time to remind ourselves that we’re beautiful and we should just focus on being present and having fun.
Now, I'd love for you to share your stories of love and self-love. What aspects of yourself do you appreciate in a world that may sometimes feel unappreciative of us? I want to hear self-acceptance. If you haven't found that story yet, fear not! It's coming! Step out into the world and make live that story. Then come back to share it with me.
Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with love, self-love, and beautiful new memories.
Kelsie Stelting is an author of relatable, heartfelt teen romance with curvy girl main characters that learn to love others by first loving themselves.
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