Living with anorexia and depression has meant that I’ve wasted years of my life actively seeking to deprive my body: of food, yes, but also of laughter, of art, of life. Only recently have I been learning that I don’t have to be perfect to be good enough. Whilst I initially sought refuge with the ‘self-love’ movement, I found that for myself and many others with similar struggles, it simply wasn’t a realistic first step. Instead I discovered that rather than objectifying my body and hopelessly striving for some unattainable visual ideal, I could start by respecting it for what it does for me - carrying me around, fuelling my brain, letting me see friends, family, and explore the world I live in.

That’s why I wrote some gentle reminders on sticky notes and posted them on my mirror, and that’s why I’ve drawn this piece - to share my goal that when I look in the mirror, I hope to see not someone who has to starve themselves to be worthy, but a human being inherently worthy of respect. Whilst self love is a lofty end-goal, I’m realising that before I can come to love my body, first I must learn to respect it.