A few weeks ago, the Huz and I had the honor of visiting Virgie Tovar as she did an informal run through of this TedTalk. I’m SO EXCITED to share this talk with you!

There is a lot here that resonates with me. Coming from a family that places a high value on beauty, being fat always meant that I would not fully participate in certain family celebrations (e.g. wedding parties) or that any teasing directed my way was somehow seen as okay because I deserved the scrutiny. A lifetime of paralyzing comments can often lead you to believe (as Virgie points out) that life begins later. If I could do life over again, I would wish that someone gave me the following advice a lot sooner:

You shouldn’t wait one more day, one more pound. The next time that you look in the mirror and you have the impulse to judge the body you see, or you look at another person and you have the impulse to judge their body, remember that childlike sense of wonder. After all, you have nothing to lose but your shame.

– Virgie Tovar

It wasn’t until well into adulthood that I learned that waiting for later is absolutely useless. Kudos, Virgie! Many thanks for your words.

Maraming Salamat,
Joanne L. Rondilla, Ph.D.
Fremont, CA