Beyond the Mirror

Every morning I stand before the mirror. As soon as I wash my face and look into my own eyes, one question echoes inside me:
“Is this really me? Or just the image society wants me to see?”

The faint dark circles under my eyes, the dryness on my lips, and above all, the body the world keeps labeling as “too much.” Sometimes they call it “fat,” sometimes “big,” sometimes “imperfect.” These words echo in my ears and darken the quiet room of my heart.

Through Society’s Eyes

When I step outside, people look. Some with pity, some with disdain, some with curiosity. Their gaze slides over my body as if I’m not a person but an object. At the marketplace, the first barrier is always size. The shopkeeper’s forced smile silently tells me, “This isn’t for you.”

And I wonder—does beauty really lie in the length of fabric or the curve of a waistline? Isn’t the true value of a human measured by the heart, the mind, and the actions?

Memories of Childhood

I remember childhood, when everything felt simpler. On the playground, no one cared who was thin and who was fat. Everyone laughed, everyone ran, everyone belonged. But as we grew up, the measuring scales of society were placed before us.
“Look at him, how slim he is.”
“If only you were like that.”
These sentences pierced me like arrows.

Fighting the Mirror

For years, I fought with my reflection. Sometimes through starving myself, sometimes through punishing workouts, sometimes through enduring taunts and comments. Every day I treated my body like it was a mistake I needed to correct.

But one day, realization dawned:
If I spend my whole life trying to meet other people’s expectations, when will I live my own life? If I keep my soul chained to numbers on a scale, how will I ever chase my dreams?

A Shift in Thinking

That was the beginning of change. I started small exercises of acceptance. When I looked in the mirror, I forced myself to notice at least one thing I liked. Sometimes it was a smile, sometimes a strand of hair, sometimes just the sparkle in my eyes. It wasn’t easy, but slowly, my heart softened.

The Voices of Others

People still talk. They still say: “Eat less,” “Run more,” “Go on a diet.” Once, those sentences poisoned my ears. But now I think: that’s their truth, not mine. My body tells a story, and only I have the right to narrate it.

Searching for Love

There was a time when I thought no one could ever love me. Because society insists love is reserved for “perfect bodies.” But eventually I realized—the very first love I need is the love I give myself. If I hate my own reflection, every other love will feel incomplete.

The Journey Continues

Some days are still hard. There are mornings when I want to close the curtains and hide from the world. But then I remember: I have already spent years in the dark. Now I must search for the light.

Food is no longer punishment or reward—it is fuel for my body. The gym is no longer a prison for losing weight—it is a place to gain strength. And the mirror is no longer my enemy—it is a friend who shows me my truth.

A Closing Message

We are all different. Some tall, some short. Some slim, some full. Some fair, some dark. But the essence is that each of us, in our own way, is beautiful.

The world’s standards will always shift. But we must cultivate the certainty inside us that we are enough—exactly as we are.

So if you ever find yourself standing before a mirror, feeling less than worthy, remember this:
Your body is not a prison. It is your story. And you are the only one who can write it