Loving your body - even when you don’t love the way it looks
Me in the white shirt 2012
Is this even a thing? This loving your body, even if you don’t like how it looks? I’ve really been thinking about it quite a bit lately.
Can I talk real to you for a minute? Not being self depreciating here, just facts.
When you birth 5 children, have had multiple surgeries, abused your body with food for years, AND gained and lost 100lbs…you have an ugly body. At least by any beauty standard currently marketed to us in America.
STRETCH MARKS - check!
FOLDS, AND FOLDS, AND FOLDS OF SKIN - check!
PARTS THAT USE TO BE UPRIGHT, BUT NOW SAG - check!
SCARS - check!
AGE SPOTS - check!
WRINKLES - check!
Parts that are still too big, parts that are too little, parts that are too white, to flabby, to dimpled.
I never EVER stand naked in front of the mirror and think, “Man, I’m just loving what I see today! Good job girl! You lookin’ amazing!” Never.
99 lbs Lost in 2013
HOWEVER, let me share another list….
My body has…
Grown, and delivered (safely) 5 AMAZING humans that are making positive impacts on their communities.
Helped me travel 1/2 way around the world, with-standing serious jet-lag and culture shock, to ADOPT another amazing human.
Stored, released and healed from trauma (displaying resilience).
Recovered from multiple surgeries.
Lost a significant amount of weight, and built muscle.
Got me up daily to do meaningful work.
Helped me to live a more interesting life: climbing the Great Wall of China, biking 29 miles down a mountain, running multiple 5Ks, snorkeling with sea turtles, climbing a 14er, and skiing Monarch to name a few.
Billy and I, 2017, having climbed Eagles Peak (training to climb 14,000 feet). I had fallen and injured my knee, taking me twice as long to get up and down.
This I know. You can appreciate all your body does for you AT EVERY STAGE AND EVERY SIZE. It literally is the vessel God has appointed to carry you to every meaningful place and stage of your life. You can be grateful for all it allows you to do.
Daughter’s Wedding Rehearsal, 2019
And, appreciation can most certainly lead to LOVE. Love for all your body does, all it’s gone through, all it’s resilience…even if you don’t really like how it looks. Give appreciation a try and see what it does for you.
Daughter’s wedding day, 2020
You are worthy of love. Give a little to yourself today. Make a list of all you appreciate about your body. Then, share! Would love to celebrate with you.
Blessings,
Shanna