As 2014 comes to a close, we are forced to reflect upon who we are, what we've accomplished, and who we want to be. But before you write down your New Years resolutions, the ways that you will become who you want to be, remember this: Losing 15* pounds is not going to make you happy, and it will not make 2015 a better year.
When drafting up these resolutions, there are many things to consider. There are the voices of our well-intended family members, who we see during the holiday season. "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?" "You look bigger." "Do you really need that piece of pie?" All of the questions and comments are pointed, but they are only meant to urge us towards "self-improvement." Once we have a significant other, once we eat less, once we are smaller, we will be better.
And then Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers and a plethora of other weight-loss companies begin to shove their problematic messages down our throats: "Hey, you there! You eat food! You are fat! You must be unhappy. Pay us, and you will finally be happy when we help you lose weight!"
Everyone is promising us that if we are smaller, we will finally be happy. This year will be different, but only if we are thin.
Let me be frank: Losing weight is not going to make you eternally happy. Temporarily, your pants size may be smaller, but all of your problems will remain. Losing weight does not mean you will finally find the perfect partner, or that you will finally get that pay raise you deserve. How much you weigh has nothing to do with who are you. If you're an asshole, you're always going to be an asshole. In fact, if you follow through with this whole weight loss resolution, you are going to be a hungry asshole -- which is worse.
So let's save ourselves from the hunger and the disappointment that will be the only outcome of this unattainable, empty dream and focus on what is attainable and important-- who you want to be, regardless of your size. Smash your scale, and promise yourself that you're going to listen to more Shania Twain because she makes you happy. Save the money you would be using for a juice cleanse and actually invest in your future. Choose to accept yourself this year. Learning how to accept yourself, as you are, is a much more productive and sustainable resolution than attempting to lose 15 pounds every single year.
The bottom line is that there are more things to worry about than just your weight. Choose to improve yourself in real and sustainable ways, so that you can be physically and mentally available to those that are important around you. Look at the world around you, rather than just how you look.
*Whatever arbitrary number you think will make you a "better" version of yourself.
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