I wish I could tell my teenage self to brush off that little voice in her head insisting that she’d be happy, successful, safe, and accepted if she was thinner, if she needed less, if she took up less space.

I’d tell her that the voice was lying to her, that this voice would get stronger and stronger and would steal relationships, joy, energy, spontaneity, and peace. I’d tell her that the fear and anxiety and lack of control only get worse as you get thinner.

As I sit here, in my thirties, struggling to undo the damage from decades of severely restrictive eating, self loathing, and perfectionism, I wish I could tell her that food is not the enemy, her body is not the enemy, and that mean little voice is not her own.

I may not be able to go back and impart the benefit of hindsight to my younger self, but I can extend love and care to my current self and my inner child. I can forgive myself for falling prey to lies. I can love myself as I stumble along my healing journey. I can make myself vulnerable by sharing my story so that others may avoid my same fate.

What lies did you once believe? What do you wish you could tell your younger self?

xoxo Your Favorite Late Bloomer