The time I gave myself a concussion because I didn't want to make someone else uncomfortable
I'm a bigger girl. It was always impressed upon me that I take up too much space. I had a narcissistic mother. I went on my first diet at the age of ten. Just a little trauma backstory.
Two nights ago, I was carrying trash outside while also taking my dog out. There was a neighbor or somebody sitting on the steps. I didn't want to intrude on them with my trash or frighten them with my dog. So I tried to go around, head down, up an incline. I walked right into the metal top of the carpark. I fell backwards down the incline, dropped everything, let go of my dog's leash. Scraped things, my head was throbbing, you get the idea.
My wife heard the crash from inside and said she thought it was a car door.
Luckily, I was wearing a headband and wasn't bleeding. There's a bump/bruise/red mark. My hair hurts to be adjusted, certain expressions hurt.
All because I was trying to make some ELSE feel more comfortable.
So if no one has ever said this to you, I will. Take up space. You are a person and you are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to inconvenience other people (you don't need to be rude, just confident). You are allowed to ask them to move. You do not need to make yourself smaller.
