A few months ago, I wrote about how my body was changing and I didn’t know how to deal. Today, on January 7th, I can confidently say that I’m still in the same boat.

I fear we’ve lost the plot when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. What started as a sentiment for personal improvement has gotten way too entangled with the concepts of weight loss and health.

Body image struggles don’t discriminate. No matter your age, weight, or size, body insecurities and dysmorphia can creep in at any time. 

We all know the feeling—you’ve just finished your Thanksgiving dinner and you’re ready for a nap. You’re already feeling a little uneasy about how much you’ve eaten today, but you don’t want to miss out on dessert either. 

It’s impossible to pinpoint when I started having a negative perception of my body, but it’s unsurprising to me that I can trace these negative thoughts as far back as being four years old. Despite the lack of social media, the early 2000s was a minefield for anyone trying to have a more positive relationship with their body.

We need to talk about the idea of “bounce-back culture” postpartum. You’ve probably felt it: the subtle (or not-so-subtle) comments about your body, the Instagram reels showing a flat stomach at six weeks, the casual “you’ll get back to yourself in no time.”

It’s incredibly challenging to feel uncomfortable in your body. More than that, it’s challenging to feel strange in your body.