For as long as I can remember I have been self conscious, on some level, about some part of body: nose, height, physique. Questioning if I meet the “standard” of beauty.
Although I have come to accept and love my body, my stomach area has been the bane of my existence. Wouldn’t you know, my body seems to store any extra weight and fat in my mid section. Not distributing evenly to make me more curvy and voluptuous. Nope! All right there front and center.
I have always and continue to live a relatively healthy and active lifestyle. Yet nothing seems to rid the mid; at least nothing I am willing to do or try.
Since college, when I gained the Freshman 15 (actually 30), I have struggled to be confident and acceptant of my tummy. My insecurities were intensified after carrying children, and this area was now covered in stretch marks.
In a world and society of vanity, excessive filter use, body shapers that squeeze the life out of you, and an increase in BBL procedures in an attempt to present “body perfection,” I know that I am not alone in my body image woes.
When I turned 40, a shift began in me, and I consequently began to gain some much needed doses of not giving a f*ck.
To that, this past October was the first time, since I was a teenager, that I wore a bathing suit, let alone a two piece in public, without a coverup (unless around extremely close friends and family). I was 42 years old.
Let’s be clear, it is not the need to put on a skimpy bathing suit in public. Rather to be comfortable in my own skin. Removing the insecurities and covering myself with self confidence and a more positive body image. Accepting all of me.
I felt both triggered, but ultimately inspired and liberated, when I saw the unwanted and unsolicited comment brought to Emmy award winning, vegan internet sensation, and our internet auntie, Tabitha Brown. Afterall, this one negative comment amongst the sea of positivity, was not only projected to Tabitha, but somehow spoke to the negative voice inside of me. This represented the loudest voice in society, saying what was pleasing or not pleasing about my own body.
After posting a beautiful picture of herself and her husband basking in love, in the Cabo sun, exuding joy and light, and looking ¡Goodt! Someone felt the need to negatively comment on her tummy’s “interstate lines.”
It always jars me to see people go out of their way to be negative to others.
Those of you who are familiar with Tabitha (and Abitha), know her response was nothing less than graceful and humorous. Whoomp, there it is!
I loved this moment for her, and for me. Now embracing ME, I am standing on the right side of body acceptance. My pudge, these stretch marks, “interstate lines”, or “root system” as I call them, remind me of the seeds that were planted, grown, and branched from me. Just know we out all summer long!
Altering my mindset to take more value and stock in how my body functions, as opposed to how it looks, has been a game changer for me. I try to feed my body, mind, and soul with positivity and nourishment, (indulging in a donut here and there). I work at being aware and embracing all of me, which has increased my thoughts and feelings about my body. I am looking good to me! But even more important, I am feeling good!
Note, there are creams and procedures promising to remove stretch marks. That may be the solution for some. I am not here to judge and I never say never. However, to think that my body is not perfect, just as flawed as it is. Or, somehow my body needs to be “fixed” in order to be loved (if by no one else but me), is a tragedy.
BTW: I am aware that both MEN and WOMEN of all sizes live with body insecurities. Know that all bodies are perfect.
Comfortable with sharing your body insecurities? How do you love your body despite society telling you it is not good enough? Have you had body enhancement surgery? If so, how, if any, did that change your perception of your body?
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