It was a joke but..
Today at work, something happened that’s been sitting with me. I was showing a colleague some old photos of someone we both knew, and a picture of me from about 10 years ago came up. He joked, “Wow, you’ve let yourself go,” and then immediately apologised, saying he didn’t mean it that way. He’s known for being light-hearted and making jokes, and at the time I didn’t take it seriously.
But when I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The comment hit a nerve because it echoed thoughts I’ve had about myself for a long time. Even though I know he didn’t mean any harm, it knocked my confidence.
I understand that no one can control another person’s triggers, but I wish that when it comes to appearances, changes, or personal struggles, people would be extra careful with what they say. You never know how deeply it might affect someone, even if it’s meant as a joke.
But when I got home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. The comment hit a nerve because it echoed thoughts I’ve had about myself for a long time. Even though I know he didn’t mean any harm, it knocked my confidence.
I understand that no one can control another person’s triggers, but I wish that when it comes to appearances, changes, or personal struggles, people would be extra careful with what they say. You never know how deeply it might affect someone, even if it’s meant as a joke.
