Scoliosis and Self Love: My Honest Valentine’s Day Reflection

My thoughts about valentines day and loving my spine…

My first question was, “Where did the concept of Valentine’s Day originate?” So I literally Googled it. I assumed every culture had its own traditions and history surrounding the date. Apparently, it wasn’t until the 14th century that it became linked to celebrating love, and commercialization really grew throughout the 19th century.

Anyway, in light of Valentine’s Day and celebrating love, I wanted to take a minute to love my spine.

But before I get to that part, I want to share something very real.

Being positive can sometimes be a turnoff for people. It can be seen as “toxic positivity.” It’s like when people say, “Love all your flaws” or “Love your body.” I’m not sure I’ve met anyone who truly loves their body all the time. I know I don’t.

I don’t always love my flaws. Or my belly. Or my scoliosis.

Sometimes I find my scoliosis frustrating. It’s time consuming. It’s expensive. My family has sacrificed a lot because of my spine. Sometimes it brings anxiety, like worrying about the future. Will it get worse? Will it cause problems later on? Will I get shorter? (I’m short enough as it is, haha.)

I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Sometimes having scoliosis just sucks.

But having scoliosis isn’t all bad.

It has created opportunities for me. I’ve built and become part of an incredible scoliosis community. I’ve made new friends, which has been really special. Having scoliosis motivates me to stay strong physically. I’m also incredibly proud of myself for staying active and competing as a figure skater despite this condition. And now I hope to inspire others not to let their scoliosis hold them back. Literally. 😉

So in conclusion, I don’t always love my scoliosis. But I have learned to accept it and respect it.

I focus on what my body does for me, not just what it looks like.

And I truly believe that acceptance is a form of love.

What do you Love about your spine? What are some good things that Scoliosis has brought into your life? Feel free to email me if you wanted to share your thoughts with me!