Woman battling body dysmorphia visited thrift store—a simple staff request taught her a life-changing lesson
At some point, a person might forget to be kind to themselves. In such moments, kindness and compliments from strangers can come in handy. A woman who had been struggling with body dysmorphia didn't know that a visit to a thrift store would uplift her spirits. A few ladies at the store had asked her to try on a dress that had just been donated. Soon enough, they showered her in compliments and helped her understand something very important, according to the woman's Instagram page, where she goes by @wholesomeashell. The video received over six million views.
"Walked into a random thrift store and they asked if I could try on a gown that had been donated," the text overlay of the video read. The moment the woman walked out with the dress on, the ladies at the store only had nice things to say. "Oh my god! You look stunning," one of them said. "That is perfect," another one chimed in. The woman couldn't stop laughing and thanking all the people at the store as she looked at herself in the mirror. One of them even remarked that the woman looked like George Clooney's wife and was really gorgeous. In the caption, she explained why all those compliments meant much more to her than anyone could have imagined. "Leading up to this, I'd been struggling with a bout of body dysmorphia and feeling really ruthless about myself… Then I walked into this thrift shop."
She further explained, "The ladies asked if I'd try on a fancy gown with a 6-foot train that'd just been donated—said they were itching to see it on and get some photos to list it. I obliged." The whole store stopped to "gawk" and "marvel" at her. "They made me feel so beautiful, but also want to cry. A group of strangers was showing me more kindness than I was showing to myself." The woman wondered why she was being her own "harshest critic" instead of being her "biggest supporter." She added, "How foolish to be obsessing over looks while people pray for the privilege I have in health and mobility." She pointed out how easy it was to internalize never feeling good enough while living in a society so focused on "better" and "more."
"I was grateful for the reminder otherwise. (Never underestimate the power of a thrift store)," the woman went on. She revealed that she was going to get the dress. The "lovely ladies" at the thrift store were going to mail it to her. People shared their thoughts on the woman's experience at the thrift store in the comments section of the video. @disgrace.jones wrote, "Darling, as a 50-year-old woman, one thing I learned was our younger selves are brutally unkind. When I look back on pictures of myself during times that I remember not feeling great about myself physically, I'm amazed because these older eyes actually see how beautiful I was. We're not on this earth long enough not to love ourselves. You are absolutely stunning."
@freddy_1930 commented, "Girl, you are certainly outwardly beautiful, but your heart seems to be just as gorgeous. I believe those ladies and that whole situation were put there for you!" @brightr_ideas remarked, "First: about your body dysmorphia. I truly understand and it's heartbreaking to not see yourself as others see you! This internet stranger pronounces you very naturally beautiful. Believe it!" @avrycrafts_craftyourself shared, "Every moment in that shop was meant to be. You made those ladies' day by trying on that dress and you looked amazing in it too!"
You can follow @wholesomeashell on Instagram for more lifestyle content.