Dear Charley

What Is Wrong With Me?

Sep 15, 2016

Dear Charley,
Hope all is good in Italy. I don't know but it seems like the guys at my school go for girls that have skinnier bodies than mine. I'm not very happy with some parts of my body. One of my friends let me borrow her shirt and it just looked so different on me compared to how it looked on her. And I'm starting to worry about how I look in all my clothes. People tell me I look nice but I'm starting to doubt. Any ideas?

Sincerely,
Body-Conscious

Hello, Beautiful,
First of all, I totally get it. It is completely normal—especially at our ages—to feel this way. For some reason, as soon as we hit 12 or 13, we start looking in the mirror a little differently, and it seems like our friends do, too.

Second, it's healthy to worry about your body a little —just make sure that it isn't affecting your life. You may be critical of yourself sometimes, and that is okay, but don't let it get to the point where you feel bad about yourself. Instead, try to replace those thoughts with positive affirmations instead. You can check out some more cool tips here: Body Image and Self-Esteem.

We see celebrities on TV and we think we need to look like them—but these people are made up and dressed for the camera. They probably don't look like that when they get up out of bed in the morning and you might not even recognize them if you saw them then!

Believe me when I say you are perfect the way you are. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and if your friend's shirt looks different on you, that is perfectly okay.

If you feel like you want to work on eating healthier, though, you can look at the United States government's daily recommendations here: BAM! Body and Mind

In the end, all that matters is how you feel about yourself. Focus on what makes you happy and achieving your dreams, and the right guy for you will appreciate you for exactly who you are.

Your Partner in Time Travel,
Charley