Worth
In 2014, my favorite band, Cimorelli, released a song called “You’re Worth It.” It was their first time being vulnerable in that way with their fans, and it quickly became one of their biggest hits and one that means the most to many of their fans (myself included). I was in middle school when it came out, and I had already been following their work for a few years at that point. When I saw the music video, which showed all six of them, each of their biggest insecurities written on their faces.
The insecurities included fat, burden, invisible, and more. At fourteen, I was having thoughts along these same lines about myself. I felt seen.
The message of the song is, as you might expect, to say that you are worthy of love, acceptance, happiness—not matter what you or anyone else might think.
There are many videos online of Cimorelli performing this song live, and in almost all of them they get as close to the audience as possible and sing directly to them, giving them hugs or holding their hands as they do. I hope I can one day experience the emotion of that moment, of so many people in one room being reminded that they are worthy.
In the years following the release of “You’re Worth It”, Cimorelli left their record label in California and moved to Tennessee to become independent artists. They released three full-length albums, both written and produced mainly by them. It was amazing to watch, all of us in the fan base were so proud of them and their journey. On those albums, more songs about self-love were also released: “Pretty Pink”, “Who Told You”, “Worth the Fight”, and “One More Night”, just to name a few. In the last year they released two more, “Believe In You” and “I Am Enough”.
Last week, they released an updated version of “You’re Worth It”, seven years after the original debuted. The video shows the now five of them (the youngest sister left after she got married in 2020), in their own space with various words or ideas written around them. One of them, pregnant with twins at the time of filming, is surrounding by magazine clippings about losing weight after giving birth. Another is surrounded by screens that ask why she’s different, why she’s so loud. It is a very powerful video, and I highly recommend a watch.
While I was listening to the new version for the first time, I was thinking about how much I’ve grown since the original. It’s been a lot, these last few years especially.
When I was fourteen, I had no idea I had an anxiety disorder—I didn’t even really understand what mental illnesses were. The term “mentally ill” was used to describe criminals, wasn’t it? That’s what people on the news always said after a shooting.
I was shy, emotional, insecure. I didn’t eat very much, or very many different foods. People made fun of me for that. I thought there was something wrong with me. No one else cried as much as I did, or got overwhelmed as fast. Why did it have to be me?
I think a lot about what I would tell my younger self if I could go back in time to talk to her. Would I tell her that, in less than three years, she’ll be a type 1 diabetic? Would I tell her about her anxiety, and that she’s not actually crazy? Or would I talk to the adults in my life and explain everything to them, just so they could understand me more?
I know that everything leading up to this moment is what got me to this moment, but I have a hard time just accepting what has happened. I didn’t deserve to feel like I was too sensitive, or too much of a picky eater. I deserved empathy and understanding, which is what I now try to give to others.
“You’re Worth It”, and a lot of Cimorelli’s other work, is part of what has lead to a more kind, positive view of my body and my mind. I will forever be grateful that I stumbled across their videos in 2012.
When will you see what I see
And realize you’re worth it
—Abbie
