A few years back, I was dating this guy. He was smart, successful,
not gorgeous in the traditional sense, but he had a big personality. I
was so drawn to him. He didn't live too close, so we would only see each
other a couple times per month. One weekend he called me as I was on my
way out the door. I was going to a outdoor music fest, with my best
friend from high school. He was in the area, so I suggested he come and
meet us there.
Now, my best friend has always been a big girl. I love that girl to death and there is absolutely nothing I wouldn't do for her. We have been through so much over the years, and I know that I am so lucky to have her as a friend. One thing the poor woman has always struggled with, is her self image. She just isn't a dainty girl. Quite honestly, she is built a lot like a man. Broad shoulders, 6 foot tall..and she's always struggled with her weight, ever since I've known her. Truly, this girl has a heart of gold, and it breaks my heart that she has never had a real, healthy relationship. I love to get together with her, and honestly some of my best memories in my life have been with her, and the crazy antics we have pulled over the years. (We both have goofy, immature sense of humors) So when the opportunity arose to go to this music festival, I had invited her, seeing it was a weekend away that we could goof off and have a laugh together. Once Dan called though, I couldn't very well uninvite her, so I asked if she minded if he came along..and naturally, being the supportive awesome friend she is, she agreed.
So we get to to the concert, we're all together. Her, me and Dan. We have a few beers, have a lot of laughs. Just enjoy hangin' out together. When my favorite band was about to take the stage, I told them that I was going up front. Neither of them wanted to fight the masses to get up there with me, and told me I would be going it alone. I was fine with that. It started pouring out. We immediately were drenched. There was no where to go to get out of it, so we just kinda sucked it up and had a laugh over it. The band was delayed but eventually took the stage, and I made my way up front, alone.
When I came back to our seats, my friend was sitting there alone. I asked her where Dan was. "He went to get under the beer tent, as soon as you left". We were already drenched, so there was no point in his departure. I knew what it was. He didn't want to be seen alone with her. He didn't want people to mistake that he was with her. I, of course did not say that to her, but I knew. As soon as my band left the stage, he was right there. He didn't say anything about it, of course..but I just knew. I was so pissed off and hurt that he could treat her like that, that I totally blew him off the rest of the weekend, and never spoke to him after it. She would have been crushed had she knew that was the reason he left. She might have known it herself, but if she did, she didn't say so.
I can't stand this sort of ignorance. I'm not just saying that, because I, too am a bigger girl now. I hated it then, too. If you are willing to shun someone solely based on their size..there is something wrong with you, not them. Everyone cannot be society's ideal of what the 'perfect size' is. These same people who shun others are going to have a mother, or father..sibling..or child that is going to struggle with their weight as well. I wonder how they would feel to have their loved one treated with such animosity based solely on the fact that they aren't 'perfect'? It's sad. The media only exacerbates and obsess on this sickening trend.
I'm ranting. I apologize. It just saddens me to see people hurting others, because of their shallow perceptions of a person's worth being based upon a number. It is heartless how some people behave, and more hurtful than they know.
Now, my best friend has always been a big girl. I love that girl to death and there is absolutely nothing I wouldn't do for her. We have been through so much over the years, and I know that I am so lucky to have her as a friend. One thing the poor woman has always struggled with, is her self image. She just isn't a dainty girl. Quite honestly, she is built a lot like a man. Broad shoulders, 6 foot tall..and she's always struggled with her weight, ever since I've known her. Truly, this girl has a heart of gold, and it breaks my heart that she has never had a real, healthy relationship. I love to get together with her, and honestly some of my best memories in my life have been with her, and the crazy antics we have pulled over the years. (We both have goofy, immature sense of humors) So when the opportunity arose to go to this music festival, I had invited her, seeing it was a weekend away that we could goof off and have a laugh together. Once Dan called though, I couldn't very well uninvite her, so I asked if she minded if he came along..and naturally, being the supportive awesome friend she is, she agreed.
So we get to to the concert, we're all together. Her, me and Dan. We have a few beers, have a lot of laughs. Just enjoy hangin' out together. When my favorite band was about to take the stage, I told them that I was going up front. Neither of them wanted to fight the masses to get up there with me, and told me I would be going it alone. I was fine with that. It started pouring out. We immediately were drenched. There was no where to go to get out of it, so we just kinda sucked it up and had a laugh over it. The band was delayed but eventually took the stage, and I made my way up front, alone.
When I came back to our seats, my friend was sitting there alone. I asked her where Dan was. "He went to get under the beer tent, as soon as you left". We were already drenched, so there was no point in his departure. I knew what it was. He didn't want to be seen alone with her. He didn't want people to mistake that he was with her. I, of course did not say that to her, but I knew. As soon as my band left the stage, he was right there. He didn't say anything about it, of course..but I just knew. I was so pissed off and hurt that he could treat her like that, that I totally blew him off the rest of the weekend, and never spoke to him after it. She would have been crushed had she knew that was the reason he left. She might have known it herself, but if she did, she didn't say so.
I can't stand this sort of ignorance. I'm not just saying that, because I, too am a bigger girl now. I hated it then, too. If you are willing to shun someone solely based on their size..there is something wrong with you, not them. Everyone cannot be society's ideal of what the 'perfect size' is. These same people who shun others are going to have a mother, or father..sibling..or child that is going to struggle with their weight as well. I wonder how they would feel to have their loved one treated with such animosity based solely on the fact that they aren't 'perfect'? It's sad. The media only exacerbates and obsess on this sickening trend.
I'm ranting. I apologize. It just saddens me to see people hurting others, because of their shallow perceptions of a person's worth being based upon a number. It is heartless how some people behave, and more hurtful than they know.
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