Someone who has been really supportive

I am really blessed to have a huge network of social support. My Mom, Sisters, Dad, Grandpa, and friends all constantly tell me how proud of me they are, and always look at me wistfully when I head out the door with "Goin to the gym to swim!" (mostly my Mom, since she wants a gym membership, and Grandpa because he's 86 and wishes he could swim, I guess).

Last week when the Great Pink Eye Scare of 2009 hit, my sister (after laughing at me) told me to suck it up and go walking instead of swimming. My best friend Perez told me she would, in solidarity, wear glasses with me while we went out Friday night. She didn't (that bitch!) but she has since offered to go hiking with me, and we have a girly hiking date this Friday.

The point is, without a great support network of girlfriends and family, I don't think I'd be as apt to change as I am. I've struggled with my weight and body image my entire life. I distinctly remember being in 4th grade at my friend's pool party, and feeling totally awkward and ashamed of my body. It's totally mortifying being the "fat friend" to your prettier, thinner girl friends. I've come to realize that even the pretty, thin girls have their body issues, and often are more messed up in the head about it than you are. I think the best compliment I got the other day was from Perez. She said "Erika, you have a will made of iron". I was really flattered. This girl used to be a model, so for her to tell me that, really made an impact. And honestly, all I was doing was politely declining some Yogurtland yogurt.

My friends and family are awesome. And I love them to bits. The End.