Posts tagged encouragement
Urge To Purge
Writing is my saving grace.
Stick and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.
As a writer, I know how emotionally charged words can be. What was once simply a means to communicate has become a weapon of choice for many people. Words have the power to mar souls and bruise egos, turn relationships sour and alienate people. Take the words “nigger”, “intsik”, or “indio,” for example.
I have a Chinese friend who hates it when people refer to his race as “intsik” because back in the days, the Chinese were discriminated against by Filipinos. It was a dirty word used to denigrate his ancestors. It didn’t matter if the person who said “intsik” meant to be hurtful or not, it was just the act of saying it that was offensive to him.
I had another friend who quit his job as a head chef at a restaurant because his employer, who happened to be pure Spanish, became angry and called him an “indio.” If you didn’t know, the Philippines underwent 300 years of Spanish colonial rule. Filipinos, referred to as “indios” by the Spaniards, experienced all sorts of hardship and inhumane cruelty at the hands of the Spaniard.
Behind these words is a history; a painful history that involved dehumanization, cruelty, anger, hate and violence. No one ever dares say these words because they want to avoid bringing up that history and stirring those old feelings.
The same goes for the words “fat” and “thin.” If you’ve read this tumblr, you’ll know what I’m talking about and you’d be lying if you told me that those words meant nothing to you. At one time, or many times, in your life you may cringed and shrunk at the word “fat”, and beamed and glorified in the word “thin”. If you look at society, there exist stigmas and stereotypes behind these words, and we all find ways to connect ourselves to them.
Fill in the blanks, “If you’re fat you are ______, _______, ________, and _______.” or “If you are thin you are _________, _________, ________, and _________.”
Now look at what you filled those blanks in with. See what I mean? These words, once used to communicate the way a person looks has now become determinants of who these people are. WRONG! ALL WRONG! The way I see things, words are just words. It’s all about how YOU put meaning to them.
“Fat” DOES NOT mean unhealthy, ugly, dumb, stupid, lazy, disgusting, repulsive, gluttonous, undisciplined, unattractive, retarded, idiotic, ridiculous, unworthy, undeserving, boring, uninteresting, dull, eyesore, sick.
“Thin” DOES NOT mean healthy, pretty, beautiful, radiant, admirable, respectable, worthy, valuable, intelligent, fun, interesting, vibrant, lovable, disciplined, powerful, inspiring, better, best.
They’re just words used to describe what a person looks like, but they are in NO WAY determinants of WHO THEY ARE. To be fat or thin does not mean you are any more or less human than the next person. It does not mean you are unworthy or undeserving of love, care, compassion, respect, kindness, generosity, mercy, forgiveness, happiness, fun, excitement, gentleness, satisfaction or contentment.
Whether you are 75lbs, 90 lbs, 100lbs, 120lbs, 130lbs, 200lbs or 250lbs, inside of you beats a heart and inside of you dwells a soul; there is a mind capable of thought and a conscience that feels. Whether you are fat or thin, you are still HUMAN and you are every bit as deserving and worthy of all the traits of the heart.
It’s time to REALLY look at yourself in the mirror, and behold the beauty in you that everyone else sees. :)
(Source: kkkkkkkkkkmb, via beutifulmagazine)
TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS:
This is a song for every girl who’s
Ever been through something she thought she couldn’t make it through
I sing these words because
I was that girl too
Wanting something better than this
But who do I turn to
Now we’re moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives
‘Cause you’re beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind
There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient
The sad truth is, everything has to get worse before it gets better. Your heart has to be crushed a bit more before it heals, this emptiness has to stay hollow for a little longer until it fills back up, your tears have to soak your pillow until you can sleep, but it does get better. It really does. Even if you don’t believe it now, it has to. When you’re at the very bottom, the only place you can go up. Find your strength and passion and rise up. You can do this.
(via luckystarsandfairytales)
and everyday is an opportunity to be so.
(Source: sincerelyeliza, via xnadiax)
It takes one person to change another person’s life.
I received a text message from one of my good friend’s since freshman year. We don’t always hang out or see each other, but I’ve always found her to be one of the few people I could trust and confide in. I could tell her anything and she wouldn’t judge me, and she’d always have plenty of wisdom, advice and encouragement to share. She’s the Sam that everyone needs in their life, and for that I am grateful.
C: Let’s hang out before you stop going to school! But yeah if you need anything or if you need someone to talk to, I’m just a text away. Even if it’s plain nonsense it’s alright with me! You know, it’s good that you’re stepping up and addressing your problem. Not a lot of people have the strength that you have. So get better and inspire people to do the same! Actually, you’re doing it already!
Me: We can hang out wheneeeever! I’ll still be around and def hanging out at school. But hey, thanks. Your support and belief in me means a lot. You know sometimes it only takes one person to change another person’s life, and I’m glad you’re one of the many who’ve changed me. I mean it. Thank you.
