Some comments on Beauty and the Body...

Some comments on Beauty and the Body...

How does one accept their own beauty and not get sucked into the
notion that a thin body is the only form that's beautiful?

From Joanne S:

Well, if a belief is just a thought that we keep thinking, then I
guess the answer is to surround ourselves with people and media that
support our desired belief. I know, easier said than done in some
cases, but to me, this is the gift of age- I am concerned less and
less with "fitting in" with the dominant culture and take much more
pleasure in discovering and being who I am, not who I used to think I
should be.

Growing up as I did in a rather "waspish" culture, there was a lot of
shame associated with being anything but the cultural ideal of thin
(and demure!). I have observed that it is not that way in other
cultures. In my own neighborhood, for example, which is mostly
Hispanic, the women dress like sexy babes no matter what size they
are- their form-fitting clothes showing every curve! And in the words
of the writer ZZ Packer, "...large black women wear their fat like
mink coats..." (I love that one)

I have given up determining how I feel about myself based on what I
weigh. I have eliminated the concept of eating "bad" foods (as in "I
was bad today...I had cheesecake...").

That being said, I am acutely aware of how different foods affect my
moods and my physical well-being, and of the detrimental effect that
carrying excess weight has had on my joints, etc. This has been a
strong motivator for me to clean up my act, eliminate processed food,
and actually eat a raw, plant-based diet for the last 6 months. This
is not a "diet" in the way people usually mean, but a new way of life.
And it is by no means a deprivation plan. You wouldn't believe all
the fabulous foods I eat, including pie, and chocolate, even "ice
kream". The longer I eat this way, the more sensitive I have become,
making it even easier to appreciate the subtle deliciousness of fresh,
live food. By adopting this diet for health reasons rather than
vanity, I have short-circuited the self-criticism that so often
accompanies attempts to "lose weight" (focusing on the negative),
although releasing weight is a happy side effect of this way of eating
:-)

Thanks for opening up this complex and interesting conversation. I'm
going to go make a cup of tea now and have a slice of mango jam pie
with date/pecan crust. hehe.
blessings,  JS

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from Cheryl N,

One idea is to pick a particular body part that you struggle accepting and send love and healing energy there. Maybe the color blue if you like.

Another idea is to fit your body with clothes that accentuate and flatter your body type(that's were I come in)

Step by step one could include exercise into there nurturing regimen.

Of course Repeating your words. . . fall in love with What Is.

Be gentle on yourself and the process . . realizing our culture and your own history or family expectations.
and. . . your right . . . could be a book

Oh yeah . . .kinda out there, but I personally believe there is wisdom stored in my lovely fat cells. ... . We know that hormones are stored there. and. . . .when I start feeling my body has to live up to some standard I sometimes view myself as Sophia (wisdom). This helps


Have a great day... CN

And some poetry from CN

YES I AM
Oh I'm fat
yes i am
i got softness all over this land
oh its cozy and so right really is a delight
you may look at me and say
your not clean and lazy all day
but if you look beyond
the thing you distaste
you would find a friend or a mate
or someone you would like to get to know
because the reality is you know
no two bodies are alike
every body has a body that's right
you can lose weight or gain
or always stay the same
just find yourself and be true
cause no one has to live in your body
but you

- CN

 

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See original article "Beauty and the Body" in blog archive at http://www.sunhutch.com/ 

______________________________________________________

John Hutchinson
http://www.sundancewellnesscenter.com/ - [latest post to blog]
http://www.sunhutch.com/ - [blog intro page]
Lancaster, PA

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