LEA WEST

Our body is our vehicle. It is not who we are. Our true selves are rooted within our body.

My value is greater than my body. This is the right answer.

The messaging I have received is radically different. I was in a grueling race with a friend. It was her first and I was a seasoned veteran. Races like this have a sense of camaraderie out on the trail. We all cheer each other on and help each other out.

A fellow racer came up alongside us and made a comment about the course. Instinctively, I replied with a comparison about another course I recently run.

The look on his face… clearly he was not talking to me. Being larger than my friend, the messaging was well received. The expectation that I should shut my mouth and clearly not have any part of that conversation was painful. The funny part was my friend was a newbie and wouldn’t have been able to respond to his comment that was intended for only her.

It might seem like an overreaction, but I’ve been in plenty of situations similar to this. The “who do you think you are” looks, the dismissive waving of hands, the why don’t you know your place mannerisms.

The thing is, no matter how I feel about my shape, I haven’t always been this size. I am fun, funny and give off confidence vibes. I’m not in your face, but I’m also not a wallflower. Marching around in this body with this personality catches people off guard.

Over time, there is a shift – an acceptance – and people really open up to me. It’s my exterior, my vehicle, that blocks my way.

**This is part of a series that uses “beautiful you – a daily guide to Radical Self-Acceptance” by Rosie Molinary as a model for prompts to look inward. Here’s why.**