Today is Love Your Body Day. This is one of those annual observations that I really wish was widely celebrated and received intense national coverage. It’s a day to engender conversations and finally figure out ways to ACCEPT our inherent beautifulness in all its shapes and sizes and UNACCEPT external influences that tell us incessantly we’re not good enough, or thin enough, or enhanced enough.
As someone who has struggled with disordered eating for much of my adult life, this issue of loving my body isn’t something that’s always been easy. And that’s too bad. Shouldn’t we all simply know we are luminous vessels and pour love, respect, and gratitude over ourselves in a constant stream of genuine appreciation?
When I first started deeply exploring this issue for myself a number of years ago, I serendipitously began participating in a year-long project wherein participants committed to keeping daily track of a particular-to-them body issue. The format of the record-keeping log could be whatever we chose, and was to done in monthly installments. I decided to print out my monthly log of daily observations/thoughts as a narrow scroll. I added a bit of decorative paper to the top part of the strip into which I secured a length of thin ribbon. Then I was able to roll the scroll up into a bead and tie it shut with the ribbon. At year’s end I had a “necklace” of these scroll beads. It is wearable documentation of my efforts – a year’s discourse recorded as body beads.
Recently I came across this necklace again, hanging forgotten among some other treasures in my studio. And it seemed like perfect timing as I’m once again struggling with finding my balance accepting my body as the beautiful gift it is. I unrolled each of the beads and read what I had written all those years ago. And it made me smile and weep and ultimately feel such tenderness for myself.
One of my daily entries was: “A friend sent me some paperwhites that I put in the requisite cool dark place to force them into bloom. Made me think about how interesting it would be to consider my struggles with my weight/body issues as the ‘forcing’ period, and that some day I’ll bloom into acceptance and love.”
Today on this Love Your Body Day I do love myself and my body. And it’s my wish that each one of you loves yourself and your body too. We are all so beautiful!
Consider sending an e-card to a friend or loved one celebrating them as perfect as they are. NOW sponsors an annual poster design contest for this event and you can send an e-card made from one of the winning designs.
Hi Deborah-
I had no idea there was such a thing as Love Your Body Day- how wonderful! This is something we should all take the time to celebrate everyday. I know that I’m certainly guilty of being un-loving towards my body, in thought and action. I’ve also struggled with disordered eating for many years, and I recently looked in the mirror and saw that I could physically see how this has affected my body, where I have worn myself down. It’s really hard to explain, but I did feel Love for myself in that moment, and I promised my body that I would be more gentle and loving in how I treated her. I love the idea of your body beads, and I’m so glad you rediscovered them. They are beautiful, just like you! Thank you so much for your sharing, and for reminding me of my own beauty…..
Love,
Tami
Deborah –
This is such a beautiful story – and a beautiful work of art. Thanks so much for sharing it and the news that it’s love your body day. I agree it should be more widely known and celebrated. -Cairene
Deborah,
You are such a giving, beautiful spirit. Reading your words always makes me feel better. Thank you my friend!
Pat
Deborah, I too have never heard of Love Your Body day but in this country we should have a whole pile of those days! What woman do you know in this country who hasn’t struggled with weight (gaining or loosing)/image issues/body issues? The scroll necklace is a superb gift you gave yourself and I am touched that you have shared it with us. Wonderful post on a very important issue! Here’s to all of us glorious women of all shapes and sizes! xo
Dearest Deborah
As always, your gentle, informative and thought provoking post was a welcome sight in my mailbox. the statement “we are luminous vessels” alone is “food” for my soul. I did not realize there was a Love Your Body Day and agree that more public recognition of it would be healing.
At least part of the problem is the fashion industry not keeping up with the times. The more mature woman is not very well represented at this time. The cut of pants, set of sleeves, etc are geared to the junior market, yet us “yuppies” are aging (and becoming rounder) in record-breaking numbers!
Interestingly, I shopped for pants this week at a department store outlet. I tried on 12 pairs of pants and not one fit. I mentioned it to a salesperson and she said that nearly all the women that come in complain of the same thing. In her opinion, it is the fashion styling trends, not a woman’s body, that cause the improper fit.
Yet, I left the store thinking “if I could lose five pounds off my stomach I’d be better.” “Better” meaning able to fit into the smaller size, thus being thinner and “in fashion.”
My opinion is that any fashion designer that loves a woman’s curves, designs well for those curves and provides attractive non-matronly clothing at an affordable price would be a multi-millionaire about overnight!
Thank you for opening up this dialog and reminding us to love the miracle of our bodies with at least as much or more ardor than we spend being critical of them.
I didn’t know about this either. I totally agree, it should have a lot more attention. Maybe I was keyed in anyway though. I was talking with a friend who is just about exactly my size. She told me she is losing 28 pounds by April, so she did all the typical things: signed up for Weight Watchers, bought a scale on and on… the usual drill. For a moment, I thought I should do it too. But out of nowhere, I just said, I’m working on accepting my body the way it is. As long as I am eating healthy, exercising and such, my size is just the way I am.
Am I actually starting to really get this? I know I can obsess about my behavior and lose some weight, but is it worth it? Maybe its just the wisdom of closing in fast on 50, but my focus is shifting to health, not size.
What a relief.
I adore your necklace affirmations.