if you only knew the addiction that you're feeding with your compliments
my body that you praise the toned muscles "in all the right spots" it's the product of binge eating episodes compulsive measuring of every gram of every single meal i ate throughout the day painful joints from pushing past what should be safe and acceptable paranoia and overwhelming anxiety from missing a workout or feeling as if i didn't push myself "hard" enough when in the gym the stress that followed me when i couldn't count the macros in a meal so i would bring my meal preps everywhere with me at sleepovers and even restaurants this is the ugly side of my body and healthiness
my clothes and makeup that you praise it's a mask that holds up my confidence the one you say you admire so much my attempt to cope with my insecurity of believing that I was ugly so much so that at one point i never took photos looked in mirrors or took off layers of jackets i kept on my body during the summer this is the ugly side of my "envious" makeup and style
my grades that you are shocked by how can a girl that looks like you do have consecutive 4.0s from middle school to nursing school in college they have been my attempt to cope with an insecurity of believing that i was dumb and would never surmount to anything they are the product of my unintentional weight loss that fluctuated in middle and high school because my chronic stress would take away my appetite lunches were comprised of library study sessions i would throw up dry heave mostly in the mornings before exams because it made my nerves go away having night terrors with school where i would wake up sweaty and scared my heart beat pounding in my ears endless hours of crying wishing i was "normal" whatever that means never taking the time of admiring my accomplishments because the fear of the next assignment consumed me not knowing how to answer the question what do you do outside of school to take care of yourself and being shocked by the silence that lingered for way too long and the tears that quietly ran down my cheeks not knowing what self-care was because i was so consumed with my grades truly believing that i didn't deserve to go to school if i got an A- when i was in sixth grade this is the ugly side of my academic achievements
i guess some would say i'm someone that "has it all" but tell me this why is it when i had "everything" the face the body the style the grades the personality the talents when i felt like i had absolutely nothing when i felt like i was absolutely nothing my story is not for everyone not everyone can relate but everyone can see the ugliness in carnal perfection it's empty but appears to be filled with substance like a hot air balloon
when i had "everything" i was at my lowest and now i'm learning what balance is what self-care is what it means to be original and not a carbon copy of society's perfection in the flesh i work out but for myself and not for numbers i don't track anything i wear makeup when i want to and dress how i feel like dressing slowly learning to have a genuine confidence and love for myself i don't study as much as i used to i take that time and invest it into others hobbies like when i featured in a song went dancing to a club in the city went to a Kevin Gates concert i'm finally learning who i am i'm finally living for myself i hope you are as well