I like it! I'm glad you found some inspiration in this; it has been a long (and ongoing) journey for me that I'm still learning from. The perimenopause stage of life is a tricky lady, for sure!
A lot of this resonates with me. I'm 57 and grew up in the "heroin chic" era like you. There was no way you could avoid the constant messaging conflating body size and value. I've been unraveling this for myself for the past 10 years and I'm happy to say I'm in a pretty good place. I still have days when I find myself comparing my body to someone thinner, but I've accepted that will likely never go away 100%, and I know how to talk back to that voice and shut it down much faster now. I do think as relatively healthy and able bodied people (I'm assuming you are as well) we need to be careful about the "health vs appearance" angle because there are people out there doing their best and still struggling with health issues. I know myself I battle with a deeply ingrained belief system that tells me if anything goes "wrong" with my body it must be because of something I'm doing wrong. I mentioned this to a Dr once, and her response was "if you visited a children's cancer ward would you think those kids were responsible for their health?" That was sobering and it sticks in my brain every time I come up against a potential health issue.
Thank you so much for sharing. I couldn't agree more about how some people may be doing all they can but are dealing with health issues that may not be as controllable. I think that applies to many situations as we are all in different places and stages with our physical and health and it's important to simply meet ourselves where we are. Although, sometimes that certainly is easier said than done thanks in part to the messaging we've been conditioned to believe.
Love your list of tools. So much of what you share resonates. I’m 59 and I’m here. Loving and living in my body and trying to be grateful and accepting as I age.
Thanks for writing this. The truce from Tracie! Has a nice ring to it. And inspires me to find my own.
The tools you share here feel necessary to me. And doable.
I’m 46 and my body is wildly resisting so much. I’m coming to terms with the realization that I should pivot how I nourish and move my body.
I like it! I'm glad you found some inspiration in this; it has been a long (and ongoing) journey for me that I'm still learning from. The perimenopause stage of life is a tricky lady, for sure!
Thank you for reading.
Great article. I'm almost 56 and it's been a life long body image struggle with me. For now I want to be strong as I get older. So important
I couldn't agree more about being strong as we get older, it's definitely a key to living a long, full life for women.
A lot of this resonates with me. I'm 57 and grew up in the "heroin chic" era like you. There was no way you could avoid the constant messaging conflating body size and value. I've been unraveling this for myself for the past 10 years and I'm happy to say I'm in a pretty good place. I still have days when I find myself comparing my body to someone thinner, but I've accepted that will likely never go away 100%, and I know how to talk back to that voice and shut it down much faster now. I do think as relatively healthy and able bodied people (I'm assuming you are as well) we need to be careful about the "health vs appearance" angle because there are people out there doing their best and still struggling with health issues. I know myself I battle with a deeply ingrained belief system that tells me if anything goes "wrong" with my body it must be because of something I'm doing wrong. I mentioned this to a Dr once, and her response was "if you visited a children's cancer ward would you think those kids were responsible for their health?" That was sobering and it sticks in my brain every time I come up against a potential health issue.
Thank you so much for sharing. I couldn't agree more about how some people may be doing all they can but are dealing with health issues that may not be as controllable. I think that applies to many situations as we are all in different places and stages with our physical and health and it's important to simply meet ourselves where we are. Although, sometimes that certainly is easier said than done thanks in part to the messaging we've been conditioned to believe.
Love your list of tools. So much of what you share resonates. I’m 59 and I’m here. Loving and living in my body and trying to be grateful and accepting as I age.
Thank you for reading and sharing, Rosemary. I am very appreciative. Here's to gratitude for our bodies and what they are capable of.