start a revolution
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
It’s revolutionary to love your body.
In a world obsessed with “fixing flaws” in order to achieve an impossibly “perfect” body, it’s commonplace to dislike our bodies, even hate them. How often do you hear your friends (yourself?) whine and worry about her shape:
My butt is too big!
I wish my hair looked like hers!
I hate my nose; it’s crooked.
I have ugly feet.
I wish my eyes were bigger.
My boobs are too small!
And so on…
A photo of me from last winter, celebrating my body in a goofy fashion show, with my husband looking down adoringly.
It’s no wonder eating disorders are rampant. It’s no wonder if we were to hear someone declare, I am so beautiful! I love the shape of my face, my tangly hair, the jiggle in my thighs. I think my hips are so round and perfect and my skinny ankles are just right! we would certainly spin on our heels to look. We might even think she’s vain or self-centered to say such a thing. We might even look down on her for loving herself.
I invite you to be a revolutionary. To go against the grain. To stand up with the meat of your body, and write a little manifesto, a declaration of love to yourself. Spread the word. It’s the new underground thing, the hip trend, the cool way to be…Love Your Body!
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“Loving your body” is a place I aspire to be after a long and tiring battle with my eating disorder. How do you get to that place when our society is constantly telling us skin and bones is beautiful? How do you get to that place where you truly love yourself, your body and are forgiving or your flaws and imperfections?
Peach, thank you for the reminder to CELEBRATE our bodies. And, by the way, I bought your book – great writing and storytelling!
Gina, surround yourself with supportive people and activities – set firm boundaries with those who do not support your journey. Look around at real, normal, everyday women and men – that helps shed a colorful light on the diversity that surrounds us. … Also, I found that gentle yoga (particularly a studio with no mirrors) helped me to tune into to how my body felt v. how it looked. That led me on an amazing path of compassion for my energy, my body, my spirit and others….
Caroline, thank you for your insight. I WILL get there, I have faith and I am working hard…I just hit a rough patch a few days ago. I am very into working out and have been very interested in starting up yoga…you may have just inspired me even more =)
Gina, loving your body is a totally attainable reality for life post-eating disorder! I love Caroline’s suggestions. Gentle yoga and surrounding myself with “normal” bodies also helped me in my recovery. Remember: that thin ideal that the media projects is only one slice of the pie of what there is for us to look at. If you stay committed to your recovery, be honest with yourself, seek support from professionals and take it one step at a time, you will find this place of celebration and even reverence for your own flesh and blood. I’ll be thinking of you!
My 18 yr old daughter asked me to buy your book and bring it to her at college. I read the 1st half on the way, I know this will help her as she was on the anorexic end, improving (with all the therapists, ect). A few weeks before college she began to restrict again, the fear of not being able to exersize at college was getting to her. It seems she has similiar issues that you had. I know you will be an inspiration! Thanks so much for the honesty you put into your book!