Princess

Yesterday, someone asked me if I considered myself to no longer consider myself to be a princess, because I’m pro-recovery, not pro-eating disorders.

Princess. All little girls, supposedly, want to be princesses. Think about it: fairytales, dress up, costumes, wedding days. All princess stuff. We’re groomed in pink girly dreams, seemingly, right from the start.

What is a princess then? Is she beautiful? Sweet? Lovable? Let’s be honest, do you and I feel like those traits every single day? I hear crickets! Didn’t think so.

We’re all incredible beings, each one of us. Princess is just one facet to our uniqueness. We’re so much more. Need an example?

Let’s look at the late Princess Diana. Yeah, I know, the word “princess” comes right to your mind. But look at her life; look at who she was, apart from her title. She was a daughter, a friend, a girl, a woman, a wife, a mother. And that’s just scratching the surface!

When she passed away, she was called “the people’s princess.” Yes, she was beautiful, glamorous and, by royal title, indeed, a princess. But the title of “the people’s princess” had more to do with her compassion, her kindness expressed to others. We felt her vulnerability and her humanity. And, to those of us dealing with eating disorders and recovery, we also empathized with her eating disorder struggles. Being a princess didn’t prevent her from experiencing those painful challenges.

So, are we, like her, princesses in our worlds? Look around at your loved ones, your family and your friends. I’d say it’s a safe bet to suggest that each of us is, indeed, “a princess of the people.” We just don’t get how much we’re loved by other human beings, do we?

How much more difficult is it for us to know God’s love for us? No matter who you are, what you’ve been or done in your life, God has a soft spot for you, in which He sees you as His Princess. He sees ALL of you, every facet in you; you are this wonderful jewel!

So, the challenge, I suppose, is for each of us to view ourselves as a “princess,” recognizing that the word speaks to our uniqueness, not a crown on our heads, not pro-eating disorder mindsets.

Yes, I’m a Princess. You are too! Walk with your head held high; you are a child, a princess, of the Most High God!