Body Positivity

Being positive about our bodies can be a real challenge for many of us. Maybe you struggle with your health, and get frustrated about what you can’t do. Maybe you’ve internalized our culture’s endless messages about bodily inadequacy. No one can fit into the ideal all of the time or in every regard. Who is going to love us in all of our old, ill, fat, hairy, funny-looking glory? We are. These bodies are the ones that give us a precious and irreplaceable chance to be alive. To experience life in all of its improbable beauty. To connect with each other. To savor the pleasures we encounter.

This challenge offers a chance to remind ourselves why we love our bodies and how much we appreciate their magnificent capacity to aid us in our quest to live vivid lives. Let’s bolster our emotional resilience and self-esteem with the powers of gratitude and the pleasures of healthy self-indulgence!

Habit:
Do something nice for your body (a relaxing bath, dress up fancy, take a nap, wear something cozy…)

Daily:
Write one thing about your body you love or are grateful for

To Do:
Do something to celebrate your physical capabilities (exercise, dance, listen to or watch something special, enjoy a favorite food…)

Reflection:
This challenge was GREAT! I actually had to work hard to come up with 31 original things to write that I love about my body. Spoiling myself, in contrast, was no trouble at all, particularly around the holidays, when fires in my parents’ hearth and long, relaxing baths were readily available!