How many times have we, as women, picked apart our bodies in horribly unloving ways. Criticizing every errant hair and judging every wrinkle and hating every once of fat?
I did it for many many years. Torturing myself endlessly with diets and exercise. Doing as much damage to my psyche as I did to my body.
Then one day, like magic, my whole perspective shifted...
I was reading A Course In Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson. Once again, I was reading about accepting myself, as I am, RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Not the first time I had come across that concept, but it was the first time it sunk in as to what it meant.
For years I never allowed myself to feel happy as I was, always waiting for something to happen before I could be happy. Now THAT'S insanity! I wouldn't be happy until I found the right job, had the perfect body, Mr. Right, fancy sports car, a house, etc....
I woke up one day and realized that the happy comes first. Yah, I kind of got used to banging my head against walls.
So, as I began to internalize loving myself right now, I realized that I could reject the Hollywood version of what is beautiful and just learn to see myself that way as I am.
That was the key to the door I had been searching for my entire life.
I started out with some pretty basic affirmations and self-talk in order to engage my emotions and solidify my thought patterns.
Then one day, not long after I started this process, I came across this lady...
Venus of Willendorf
Picture found at: Willendorf-Venus-1468.jpg
She may not embody the Hollywood beauty blueprint, but she is Primordial at over 25,000 years old. She is woman. She is ancient. She is me.
This figure empowers me. If ancient cultures revered this body, why shouldn't I?
I began looking at my body in a whole new light.
I am strong, I am fearsome and I am soft and I am nurturing.
I have many scars, many wrinkles and a bounty of flesh. And I love each and every inch. Each cell. The good and the noncommercial. I have fought hard and have earned all my battle wounds. I am proud to display where I have been and I wear my body like I live my life. With courage and confidence.
No more shame. No more guilt. No more comparing.
I feel sexy and beautiful every minute of every living day. And it shows.
I don't call myself fat anymore. I say "I have a lot of real estate".
Picture found at: Holy Clothing Facebook Page
Picture found at: Holy Clothing Facebook Page
