So I don’t think I’ve posted about this on my Tumblr yet, but a few weeks ago I was told that my cosplay presentation idea for the “Body Love Conference” made it through round one! Round two was to make a video that pretty much goes into what your presentation is, why its important, and things like that. If the video makes it through, then I get to go to the conference :)
I decided that on top of telling, I would show why it would be important. So my partner and I made this shirt, which is just a handful of comments I’ve gotten this year alone about my cosplay. This isn’t everything, because everything wouldn’t fit on the front of the shirt. How sad is that? Cosplay is supposed to be fun, right? We’re dressing up as fictional characters, who are these people who have time to say such harsh things to someone they don’t even know?
But I’m not the only one this happens to. I’m sure everyone has a story where someone said something out of line to them, whether they were cosplaying or not. And, oddly enough, that creates an understanding, a bond, between us. And through the negativity it shows why positivity is so important. It shows why your happiness and your opinion of yourself is what matters. You can’t go off of someone else’s blind judgment. You can’t let these words keep you down, I say “keep” because, honestly, they will hurt and I will never deny that part, because it’s important to be honest with your feelings. Being called these names does hurt and they will make you pause in your steps. They made me pause, but they didn’t make me completely stop. They never will. Why should they?
I know the truth about myself. I’m a writer. I’m a cosplayer. I’m an artist. I have a loving partner, great friends and family. Why is one “fat slob” comment going to stop me from living the life I want to live?
It’s not, and it shouldn’t stop you, either.