My Body, In All Its Seasons

Real Talk Vol. 31

My body has changed.

Up and down.

Softening here. Shifting there.

And for a long time, I thought that meant something was wrong.

I won’t lie.

I’ve considered diets.

Even flirted with the idea of body sculpting.

I’ve had moments where society’s standards and family whispers got a little too loud in my head.

But the truth is, my body was never the problem.

The pressure was.

I let my weight fluctuate.

I let it happen instead of fighting it.

And somewhere along the way, I learned that listening to my body felt better than trying to control it.

Then there’s my skin.

My face has had its seasons too.

Clear. Breaking out. Healing. Repeating.

Stress shows up on my face now.

PMS does too.

Last summer, it was loud.

Cystic. Painful. Humbling.

And it’s still recovering.

Almost there.

Progress, not perfection.

Sensitive skin joined the chat as I got older.

Perfume on my collarbone used to be a thing.

Now? Immediate reminder that my skin has boundaries.

So I adjusted.

Different spray spots.

More grace.

I’ve noticed new moles appear over time.

Small. Quiet. Unbothered.

I let them be.

Stretch marks and cellulite?

We’re on speaking terms.

Actually, we’re kind of close.

Because bodies stretch.

Bodies hold life.

Bodies tell stories.

This season taught me that my body isn’t something to discipline into submission.

It’s something to care for.

To work with.

To respect.

All bodies change.

All bodies respond differently to stress, joy, rest, and time.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

This is me, learning to live in my body instead of fighting it.

Meeting myself where I am.

And choosing softness over shame.

–C