"I Weigh" - A Movement

If you all have social media, you're probably familiar with the "I Weigh" movement. Created by actress Jameela Jamil, the "I Weigh" Movement is meant to "inspire people to share the gifts and struggles that they weigh, whether they're related to religion, sexuality, or mental health, because we are so much more than our physical appearance" ("This Movement Is Encouraging the Internet to Embrace What They Weigh . . . Beyond the Scale"). So, no, dear reader. This post has nothing to do with the number on the scale. It is so much more than that. We are so much more than that.

So many people let a little machine and the calculations it spits out like poison define them. I know that I, for one, have felt upset or discouraged by both the scale and by what I saw in the mirror. Weight was undeniably a factor that led to my experience with disordered eating, and I know that I am not alone in saying this. The other day, I had an incredibly enlightening conversation with one of my new friends, who I will not name to protect her privacy. We discussed our individual struggles with accepting ourselves for everything that we are. We talked about the societal pressures place on each person in the world to look perfect. And lastly, we chatted about what our disordered eating habits had taught us.

For one, I learned that not eating sucks. All you can think about is food, all you feel is intensely cold because you have zero body fat, and your mind is an abyss of loneliness and confusion. But more importantly, my months-long abstinence from food and my obsession with exercise taught me that a number on a scale should never, ever, determine my worth.

See, weight is only the measure of the force exerted on your body by gravity. And I am so much more than the force exerted on my body by gravity. Later that same day, I read a positively wonderful news article that informed me about the "I Weigh" movement. I was so inspired, everyone. How fantastic is it that there is finally a viral Internet sensation that focuses on body positivity? Because I do not yet have social media, I thought that I would participate in the movement right here, right now, on The Avocado and Me! Here is what I weigh:

- Hard work, passion, grit, and dedication
- A fierce desire to learn, learn, and learn some more!
- Thousands of mugs of steaming green tea
- A ton of Harry Potter Trivia
- A daughter, a sister, a friend
- My three rescued, darling dogs

- A spatial perspective and a growth mindset
- Sarcastic jokes and crazy laughter
- The knitted sweaters that make up about 50% of my closet
- Text messages with my best friend
- Our school lunch period, chatting underneath the (almost nonexistent) shade of the smallest tree
- Constant doubt and insecurity
- The motivational quotes plastered all over my brain
- A kneecap that doesn't fit quite right, and the physical therapy that comes with it
- The dumbbells and teal yoga mat in my basement
- Nightly phone calls with my grandma
- A belief that everyone is created equal, and should be treated as such
- A love for typing nonsensical words on my white Chromebook
- Vacations to the Oregon coast
- Guided Meditation
- Ever growing room to improve
- The Avocado and Me

Perfection is not a human quality. You will always and forever have an aspect of yourself that you will want to change. Deep-seated insecurities are inevitable, and will not simply wash away with time. What we must remember is that we are not defined by one element. My experience with an eating disorder was just a part of me. It was not, and will never be me. If you have anxiety, it is undoubtedly a piece of you, but it isn't you. You are not your mental health, your weight, your sexual orientation, your physical appearance, your favorite movie, or your job. These are only fractions of your beautiful identity. And when we remember this, we take another step closer to understanding that we are enough, just as we are.

What do you weigh, my friends? Please let me know in the comments below - I can't wait to hear all about the wonderful things that make you, well... you!

"To fall in love with yourself first is the first secret to happiness" - Robert Morley

Happy weekend, all.
- Maya

Photo by Maya's family, Photo by Brina Blum on Unsplash, Photo by Maya's family, Photo by Marcela R on Unsplash