I know, for myself, sometimes, I just get down on myself for being fat.

Most of the time, I accept myself and love who I am.

Even in the face of all the fatphobia, fat discrimination, and anti-fat rhetoric out there.

But you know, we all have those days when it all gets to you.

And this is nothing new to me.  I’ve been fat most of my life.

I was a fat kid, a fat teen, a fat adult, and now I’m a fat old lady.

You’d think I’d be used to it by now!

In fact, thanks to figuring out that I love myself “as-is” and that part of that “as-is” is my fat body, I am in a much better mental place.

This didn’t happen until I was in my 30s; but even before that, I had an inkling that I was more than okay with the person that I am.

And I’m hoping that these days, what with the internet making fat positive voices and fat positive art, and just fat positivity more accessible, that people are learning to love and accept themselves sooner than later.

Of course, the internet makes all the fatphobia, fat discrimination and anti-fat rhetoric more accessible too.

Anyhow, I was thinking – what did I do “back in the day” to beat the fat blues?

#1 for me – new clothes.  Nowadays, I can afford to buy new clothes, when I was young, not so much (plus fat clothes were not as available back then).  So, I learned to sew!  I learned how to take a smaller pattern and make it into a pattern that would fit my fat body!  Anyone who knows me well, knows I am all about clothes.

#2 – fat positive images – fat art of any kind.  It’s great having some in my home, and the internet is such a trove of what artists are creating around fat bodies.  Go on Pinterest and do a search on “fat art” and prepare to be awed, amazed, and amused for hours!

#3 –people who care about me and accept me – I know this is tough for some people, but if at all possible, I encourage you to go out and find “your people”.  If your bio-family is far away or not supportive – go find your meant-to-be family.  Family can be the people you surround yourself with, the only requirement is that they love you just as you are.  And they can be found everywhere – I have theater family, I have fat folks family, I have LGBTQ family, I have work family, and I am fortunate enough to have family-family.  Feeling down on yourself – go hang out with folks who make you happy.

#4 –  crafts / art – make something that makes you happy.  I love making my Dikke Dame Dolls (Dutch for Fat Lady).  You can make fat-centric art or just art art.  Creativity is not size-centric.

#5 – music – go dancing or go do some karaoke, or dance around your room, or just sit and listen to music that you love.  Maybe do a search and find some new-to-you fat-positive music.

#6 – and if all else fails – in these days of the internet there will always be kitten and puppy videos.  Kittens and puppies will never judge you for your weight.  In fact, they will love you all the more because you are soft, soft, warm, warm.

I’d love to hear what y’all do to get rid of the fat blues.