Calling someone “fat” can be a hurtful insult. But why is that?
This question came up when a mother named Allison shared her story about a recent swimming trip with her children. When her daughter called her fat, 30-year-old Allison had a clever response, and her message is now spreading quickly online.
Allison Kimmey began dieting when she was just 14 years old. She managed to stay at a size two to four through graduate school, but it was tough, and she wasn’t happy. Three years ago, at age 27, Allison reached a size eight and realized she would be much happier if she stopped fighting against her weight gain.
To motivate herself, Allison started an Instagram account, @allisonkimmey, where she shares pictures and inspirational messages. Her body positivity spreads joy and encourages her followers, but her important message doesn’t always reach everyone.
**Me:** “Actually, everyone, every single person in the world has fat. But each of us has different amounts.”
**Her brother:** “Oh right! I have some to protect my big muscles! But you have more than me.”
**Me:** “Yes, that’s true. Some people have a lot, and others don’t have much. But that doesn’t mean one person is better than the other. Do you both understand?”
**Both:** “Yes, mama.”
**Me:** “So can you repeat what I said?”
**Them:** “Yes! I shouldn’t say someone is fat because you can’t just be fat, but everyone HAS fat, and it’s okay to have different fat.”
**Me:** “Exactly right!”
Not only did Allison want to teach her children how to talk to others, but she also felt it was important to spread the message that everyone is equal, no matter their body shape. Now, her post on Instagram has gone viral.
“If I shame my children for saying it, then I’m proving that it’s an insulting word and continuing the stigma that being fat is unworthy, gross, comical, and undesirable,” writes Allison.
A woman grows weary of an admirer who joins her every morning jog, but frantically searches for him when he suddenly stops showing up
This story is such a beautifully crafted portrayal of connection and vulnerability, capturing the unexpected bond that can form when people dare to step out of their routines. Rebecca’s meticulous control over her life, built as a defense against the heartache of her past, meets its gentle challenge in Charlie’s warmth and persistence. His humor and openness chip away at her walls, showing how sometimes even the smallest gestures—like a daily “good morning” and a silly joke—can pierce through loneliness and bring light back into someone’s life.
The narrative does a wonderful job balancing humor and emotion. Charlie’s lightheartedness contrasts with Rebecca’s guarded nature, creating a dynamic that’s both heartwarming and realistic. The twist, where we learn about Charlie’s heart condition, is surprising and poignant, underscoring the theme of vulnerability in love. Charlie’s willingness to step beyond his own health limitations just to be near Rebecca speaks to the depth of connection he’s found in her, which ultimately transforms her strict routine into something warmer and more hopeful.
Rebecca’s growth from solitary resilience to embracing connection is especially moving. By inviting Charlie over for dinner, she’s symbolically opening herself up to a life less controlled but richer in companionship. The story speaks to how love and companionship can find us even when we aren’t looking, sometimes in the most surprising ways.
The story is truly inspiring and heartwarming, a reminder that sometimes the people we need the most are the ones who appear when we least expect it. It’s a lovely, uplifting narrative that could definitely brighten someone’s day.
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