Franz Lenard Torres 
“Am I not enough? May kulang ba sa akin? May mali ba sa akin? Pangit ba ako? Pangit ba ang katawan ko? Kapalit-palit ba ako?”
We’re not Callie from ‘My Ex and Whys,’ however it does not need a massive breakup with a former lover to rethink one’s worth because of our physical appearance. It has become so normalized to the point where people all over the world suffer from mental and physical health problems associated with unachievable and unreasonable body standards.
However, on this day, let’s begin to shift the focus from diets to nourishment, from restriction to balance, and from judgment to acceptance. Today, May 6th, we celebrate International No Diet Day, a day to challenge societal norms, break free from the diet culture, and celebrate the beauty of all shapes and sizes.
This day reminds us that our worth is not anchored solely on our dress sizes or the food we eat. It is a day dedicated to empowering ourselves and others to reject harmful dieting behaviors and embrace a more compassionate approach to health and wellness.
So, let’s slowly but surely, erase the narrative that our bodies and how people perceive it should dictate our value. Instead, let us embrace every part of ourselves with love and acceptance. Together, let’s create a world where every body and everybody is celebrated, accepted, and loved unconditionally.
And so, repeat after me: I am enough. Walang kulang sa’kin. Walang mali sa’kin. Hindi ako pangit. Hindi pangit ang katawan ko. And most of all, hindi ako kapalit-palit!
Happy International No Diet Day!
