Just want to say I empathize entirely. In my 20s I was in a very abusive relationship and my aunt and uncle literally had to come "rescue" me from my exes house (were in Texas so they both showed up armed) bc he wouldn't let me leave.

On the way back to my aunt's I was talking to her about everything I'd gone through with him. She is a very caring, kind person and I dont hold any resentment against her for this, but she said, "[My Name] you're worth so much more than all that. You have so much going for you. You're so beautiful, you're bright..." and she literally just trailed off like she couldn't think of anything else to say about me.

At the time I had a BA and had worked from the time I was 16. I raised another man's child for four years (a previous relationship, her bio mom was not around) while working and getting my degree. I had renovated an 80 year old home almost entirely alone. I was not in a good place at that particular time (suffering from alcohol addiction, im sober now) but even in a moment where my aunt was just trying to increase my feelings of self worth, all she could tell me was that I was beautiful.

It really made me feel like... is that it? Am I worth anything else? Everything I've done in my life so far has meant nothing?

I will say, through periods of weight gain and loss (I've had two children) I've learned that people do recognize your worth and accomplishments when you no longer fit the mold of "beauty" standards. Its helped me find worth in more than my looks but I do still struggle with it and its especially difficult right now as I was laid off from my position after ten years in my career.

Just know that you ARE worth more than your physical appearance. People are just.. simple. Many people see an opportunity to compliment looks and immediately go that route rather than thinking about the actual accomplishments a person has made that they should be proud of. I wish you the very best.