My parents didn’t recognize me after gaining about 50lbs.
I attended a high school for a year as an exchange student in the U.S.
It was those days with no internet and international calls were crazy expensive. So, I wrote some letters to my parents occasionally but I don’t think I included any photos.
A year passed and I was super excited to see my parents back at Narita airport, Japan. I saw them, I’m waving frantically but they were giving me some frown faces. I thought..that’s odd...
So, I ran to them and gave a big hug. They finally recognized that it was their daughter waving and hugging them!
My over the top excitement instantly became a huge embarrassment.
I lived with the embarrassment, the body shame, too long. I should have asked for help, I should have focused on my inner beauty, but couldn’t.
I shouldn’t have valued others’ values and opinions but that’s all it mattered back then.
Cultural ideals and norms totally won over me, too strong that I didn’t know who I was anymore. I was always looking for someone I should be and validations from others.
Can you relate?
If you want a community who are going through similar challenges re Emotional Eating, join our FB tribe “Mindful Eating Support ~Reframe Your Eating Story~”.
Much love,
Kanna