Top 57 Quotes & Sayings by Lizzie Velasquez

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American activist Lizzie Velasquez.
Last updated on December 21, 2024.
Lizzie Velasquez

Elizabeth Anne Velásquez is an American motivational speaker, activist, author, and YouTuber. She was born with an extremely rare congenital disease called Marfanoid–progeroid–lipodystrophy syndrome that, among other symptoms, prevents her from accumulating body fat and gaining weight. Her conditions resulted in bullying during her childhood. During her teenage years, she faced cyberbullying, which ultimately inspired her to take up motivational speaking.

Back when Myspace was around I couldn't wait to have my own account. My parents told me I could get one as long as I was okay with the fact that with the good comes the bad.
I feel like I've built up this persona of always being positive and always being happy, and I worried if my audience sees me not in that light, will they think less of me? Will they discredit me? Will I just be nothing?
Bullying in 2015 has a whole new look. It doesn't ever end. It's 24/7. — © Lizzie Velasquez
Bullying in 2015 has a whole new look. It doesn't ever end. It's 24/7.
I credit a lot of learning to love myself to my faith, my family and my friends. Everyone needs someone you can look to for constant support, who you never have to impress, to share your happy and sad days.
I eat small portions of crisps, sweets, chocolate, pizza, chicken, cake, doughnuts, ice cream, noodles and pop tarts all day long, so I get pretty upset when people accuse me of being anorexic.
I weigh myself regularly and if I gain even one pound I get really excited.
Beyond scheduling regular checkups with my cardiologist, there is no way to know if or when my heart condition might become critical.
I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.
I normally don't ever talk about my dating life or anything super personal in the press just because I feel like there's this fine line between what to keep to myself and what to share.
But I have the most incredible support system in the world. They let me have those times when I just want to cry. But I give myself a deadline and say, today's my sad day but tomorrow when the sun comes up it's done.
I have a passion for helping others and making a difference in the world. I take life one day at a time and make the best of it every chance that I get.
People think cyberbullying will never end, so why try to fix it? Which I completely understand. I will be the first to tell you that it's not going to end. But if you start making the change and start making the steps, over time change will happen.
Friends who were so supportive absolutely made my high school - that could have been traumatic - they definitely made it bearable. — © Lizzie Velasquez
Friends who were so supportive absolutely made my high school - that could have been traumatic - they definitely made it bearable.
I was actually so small that my baby clothes were actually doll clothes from Toys 'R' Us because that's all that would fit me!
I taught myself how to be a speaker on Google. I just Googled 'how to be a motivational speaker.'
No matter what age you are, I think if you're a girl or a boy, you're insecure. And it's not easy.
My original plan was to graduate high school and major in computer engineering at college. That went out the window, and I said, 'I have to do something with speaking.'
My parents gave me an incredible foundation and a strong faith in who I am. They loved me in the face of so many unknowns.
You'd assume I was being bullied a tonne at school and it was horrible, but in reality, I really was getting bullied everywhere else.
Having to look a certain way, or be a certain weight, comes from magazines, movies, the media.
I experienced bullying as early as the first day of kindergarten and there were times where I wish could escape out of my body.
I can pretty much make a joke out of any situation, I'm quick on my feet and I love to laugh. I am the biggest girly girl. I love to get dressed up, go shopping, and getting my nails done.
When I was a teenager I would look in the mirror and wish I could wash away my syndrome. I hated it because it caused so much pain in my life.
But after the TED talk went viral, I called Sara Hirsh Bordo, who had produced TEDxAustinWomen, to ask her advice. She told me she'd like to do a documentary, and that we should work together on anti-bullying efforts.
I told myself that I wanted to be a motivational speaker, I wanted to write a book, graduate college, have my own family, and have my own career.
Honestly, I had no idea I was different from other kids until I started kindergarten. To my family, I was just Lizzie.
My biggest piece of advice when it comes to bullying is to have an open communication about it.
I am very determined but I also have a tendency to be very stubborn. If I'm ever told I can't do something I put my mind to or that I won't be able to accomplish, I automatically think of it is a dare that I won't do it and it makes me that much more determined to get it accomplished.
Whether it's your personal life, your work life, your school life, your confidence, everything will fit once you believe in yourself.
People have asked me if I had a miracle or a chance to change the way I look, I honestly know I would never do that.
In 2013, I did a TEDx talk in Austin. Until then I had sort of a following online but this was completely different - it went viral.
Young girls and boys from all around the world let me know their personal story, and I can feel their smile through their words. To be able to look at those comments and just get encouragement from them and know that I am living the life that I'm supposed to is what keeps me going every day.
As I got older, I knew my syndrome wasn't going away. It was a hard pill to swallow. I wanted to look like everyone else and blend in, and I couldn't find a way to make that happen. I couldn't blame the doctors or my parents, so I blamed myself.
Being a 13-year-old girl who is constantly picked on is unbearable.
No matter what we look like or what size we are, at the end of the day we are all human.
You are the biggest influencer in your life.
Bullying needs to have more attention, and there needs to be more open communication in schools to make kids feel comfortable enough to speak up. — © Lizzie Velasquez
Bullying needs to have more attention, and there needs to be more open communication in schools to make kids feel comfortable enough to speak up.
I eat every 15-20 minutes to keep my energy levels up.
God made me the way I am for a reason and I would never change that. I lead a normal life as much as possible and deal with the bumps in the road as they come along with my head held high and a smile on my face!
You don't have to live up to anyone else's standards, you don't have to look like anyone else, you don't have to compare yourself to anyone else. You being you is enough, and you putting your positivity and good vibes out into the world, once you get to that point absolutely everything will fall into place.
One thing I did was to create a Love Yourself List. I wrote down everything I like about myself, and put it on my bathroom mirror. Then I read it until I believed it. Any time I compared myself to others, and felt negative about myself, I'd go back to that list.
I make it a point to let myself have bad days on a regular basis.
I've met so many people who have come up to tell me their personal stories, and a lot of them express the same feelings that I have, especially reading things online.
I could eat absolutely whatever I want, whenever I want and I won't really gain any weight. I'm going to be 25 in March, and I've never weighed over about 64 pounds in my entire life.
Everyone knows life throws you curve balls, in my case it's like life throws me giant boulders.
I feel I'm really glad I don't look like the celebrities out there who are beautiful, because there are a lot of stereotypes attached to that.
When I close my eyes at night I'm able to go to bed with a heart full of gratitude. When I wake up in the morning my heart is full with thankfulness and peace. I don't know what tomorrow will hold, but I do know I will live each day to the fullest.
Just like everything else in our lives, with the good comes the bad. It applies to success as well. Success isn't a destination, it's a journey - a journey that will be sure to come with lots of great achievements and lots of setbacks. You have the power to decide if those downsides are going to define you in a negative way or a positive way.
Fully embrace the fact that you are enough just being you. It's so important for women to champion each other instead of competing against each other. Believe in yourself and believe in all of the women in your life. As females we are already strong but imagine if we all supported one another? What a world that would be.
When you are tiny like me and it's hard to find clothes that fit you get really creative! I do love fashion though, and it's so fun to play with different things. — © Lizzie Velasquez
When you are tiny like me and it's hard to find clothes that fit you get really creative! I do love fashion though, and it's so fun to play with different things.
I wish we lived in a world where all kids were loved by their parents how I was and am every day.
I used to be the definition of a people pleaser. I would say 'yes' to anything and everything and then, when I got home, I'd complain and vent to my family. I had to realise that it's okay to say 'no' sometimes.
To me, ultimate happiness is a journey, not a destination. It's not somewhere you end up, it's making choices every day to make yourself happy.
I don't believe in having regrets. I believe everything happens for a reason even when we don't want it to happen. Every high and every low moment has a lesson waiting for you to find it.
Opportunities will always be there but the level you'd be able to fulfil those opportunities depends on you being fully present and working to the best of your ability.
Often I'm told I'm an inspiration to people which I will forever be grateful for. But the reality is that I'm only able to help others because others are helping me. Everyday people who are doing whatever they can to help make a difference are what keeps me going.
I would encourage women to own their vulnerable moments. We're all human and we don't have it all together - that is perfectly okay. Admit when you're having a hard time and don't hesitate to ask for help. You will be very surprised when you realise we are all in the same boat at one time or another.
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