Wednesday, August 18, 2021

What do You Love About the Way You Look?

So often women as taught to be subtle, not gloat on compliments, don't brag, don't point out assets. Yet in being taught this, we're subtly taught to not love ourselves, to not love our bodies (come one now, how many figure enhancing or reducing billboards are there, let alone social media shit talking about learning to self-love through medication, work-outs, diets, or plastic surgery). 

And then we try to teach our daughters and granddaughters to love themselves - we tell them how much we love their dimples, their skinny legs, their sturdy legs, their soft bellies, their shiny hair, their kinky hair, their soft skin, cute toes, pudgy fingers, their smiles and smirks, and then we teach them to suppress these points of compliments when they grow older.  

When was the last time YOU found something about yourself, your body, that you loved, and pointed it out, to yourself or a loved one? 

I love my - 

Hair - always been blonde, now is white with blonde. A little curl, a lot of body, thick. 

Teeth - pretty white, pretty straight. 

Hands - strong nails, slender fingers. 

Feet - well-shaped even toes, decent nails. 

In-between - still learning, and learning how to make peace with the parts that will probably not be my favorites, ever. 

At 62, still learning how to love some parts of me. 


Thanks to Cup of Jo for the inspiration for this post. Read the comments - beautiful. 



Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The Most Profound Words -

 A friend who's going through tough times this year, had a tough experience today, and she just sent me the most profound phrase I've heard in a long long time. Something I think we all need to know when we go THROUGH hard times, not around, not over, not ignore, but through the tunnel/door/canal/self-doubt - 

". . . and I didn't break."

Sister, friend, daughter, grand-daughter, lover, significant other, client, caregiver, this is for you. You will not break - going through is so much tougher than being on the other side. I know. And today, my friend found this out as well. 

Way to go, Danielle! 

Friday, August 6, 2021

The Consequences of a Single Story - TED -

Two TED's in a row! I do love a well-spoken presentation. And this speaks to my soul as a folklorist and as a chaplain. 

Enjoy - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg&feature=emb_title)


What is your story? What is your disillusioned story? Your stereotyped story about yourself, about others?