Demi Lovato

Recently I came across some very disheartening images and stories on the web.  I can't even tell you how I came across these web pages, because I don't remember what I was searching for... but they made me mad.  VERY MAD.  In short, I came across a collection of web posts from women, mostly very young women who had commented on a dieting article about how they needed help losing weight.  The part that troubled me was that these women asking for advice were not middle aged women who work 40 hrs a week, and need meal planning advice, they were 13 and 14 year-old girls describing so much self-loathing that I found myself in tears.  How can a 15 year old who is 5'7" and lost 35 lbs to only weigh 95 lbs be so diluted as to brag about her drastic weight loss and say, "and I don't even have an eating disorder!"  These girls were trying to help each other destroy their bodies and they don't even know it.  What has our society done to us?  When there are photos and posters like this...

This kind of advertising causes depression, self loathing, irrational expectations, and horrible eating disorders and self-mutilation.  Girls who see things like this, "want to be thin."  Why the hell are we printing posters that say "I want to see my cheek bones and my hip bones" and expecting girls to think that this is normal.  THIS IS NOT NORMAL and THIS IS NOT HEALTHY.  No girl should ever evaluate themselves as a person based on how jealous their friends are of them, or how many boys they can get to do a double take.  

I am angry. Period. 

Demi Lovato is a young actress and singer who has just released a new song describing her journey and the journey of many others called Skyscraper.  Demi is such a pillar of strength and recovery.  She has been an inspiration to me, and millions of other girls who have struggled with eating disorders or other internal battles.  This song is so perfect and pure and honest about how the scrutiny of others (or in some cases, the scrutiny of yourself) can tear you down so low... but the most important thing is to keep getting up when you fall down.  

You can be stronger than even the Strongest of influences.  You have it in you... no matter what is working against you.  So, thank you, Demi, for putting these feelings into words.  

"Skyscraper" - Demi Lovato

"Skies are crying, I am watching
Catching teardrops in my hands
Only silence, as it's ending
Like we never had a chance

Do you have to make me feel like
There's nothing left of me?

You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper
Like a skyscraper

As the smoke clears, I awaken
and untangle you from me
Would it make you, feel better
to watch me while I bleed?

All my windows still are broken
But I'm standing on my feet

You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper
Like a skyscraper

Go run, run, run
I'm gonna stay right here, watch you disappear
Yea--ohh
Go run, run, run
Yeah, it's a long way down
But I am closer to the clouds up here

You can take everything I have
You can break everything I am
Like I'm made of glass
Like I'm made of paper
Ohh Ohhhh!
Go on and try to tear me down
I will be rising from the ground
Like a skyscraper
Like a skyscraper

(Like a skyscraper)

Like a skyscraper
Like a skyscraper"

Love True-

Allison