I believe the message in Eight Bites is really powerful because it shows how people are pressured to change themselves just to fit into society’s expectations. The story focuses on this woman who goes through weight-loss surgery because she believes it will make her happy, but instead, she ends up feeling like she’s lost a part of herself. That really stood out to me because it shows how people think changing their appearance will fix everything, but in reality, it doesn’t always work that way.The title Eight Bites is really interesting because it comes from the idea that eating only eight bites is the right way to eat. It’s a rule that was just created by someone, but the woman in the story follows it like it’s the truth. That reminds me of how society makes up these rules about what people should look like, how they should act, and what should make them happy. But just because a rule exists doesn’t mean it’s right. One of the most disturbing parts of the story is the shadow-like figure that appears after the surgery. It’s like the part of her that got removed didn’t just disappear, it’s still there, haunting her. That really hit me because it shows how you can’t just cut away parts of yourself and expect to feel whole. Another thing that stood out to me is how the narrator’s sisters all went through the same surgery, and they act like it’s the best thing ever. It’s like they’re trapped in this cycle of thinking that being thin equals happiness, but no one is actually questioning it. That happens a lot in real life. People follow societal norms without even realizing they have a choice. It’s sad because instead of learning to accept themselves, they just keep trying to become what other people expect them to be.What I learned from this story is that people should be allowed to exist as they are without feeling pressured to change. Society makes people think they have to be a certain way to be happy, but that’s not true. Everyone has the right to define happiness for themselves. No one should feel like they have to erase a part of who they are just to be accepted. The world should be a place where people can just be themselves without judgment. But right now, there’s still so much work to do to make that a reality.

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