The bod...

So I was standing naked in the bathroom, brushing my teeth, at oh-god-it’s-frigging-5am-in-the morning. I looked at myself in the mirror and laughed. A lot. And that was a good thing. Why? Because I’m over body issues and the perception of what may or may not be attractive when it comes to me. My body is just that. A body. I can do the best to exercise it and keep it healthy but the outer layers? They’re just there. I could have stuff lifted, tucked and sucked out but the ‘stuff ‘ I have is functional and it’s got me to the point I am in my life so far so what the hell, it’s better to have a laugh at yourself than worry about what you’re not. A couple of years ago I learnt a very valuable lesson from a wise friend about bodies and nudity and using the ‘stuff’ you have to the best of your ability be it pleasure or the pain of boot camp. So go on. Strip down. Stand in front of the mirror – toothbrush or not - and have a good laugh. Body shape is not worth getting upset over.

Stop punishing women for being women....

I had this photo on facebook this morning. It’s an important photo. Why? Because women need to feel like they can be normal if they are overweight. In fact – they’re allowed to. It annoys the hell out of me that some women are made to feel less beautiful or inferior by the way they look.

Naturally slim? I’m happy for you. Trying to lose weight? Do it for you and not because some jerk called you fat and ugly. Not ready to lose the weight yet? Do you feel ‘safe’ being the size you are? I get that. I do. When you’re ready you will do it. Only you know when that will be. I have total faith you will find that time. Are you a man who wants a women to have a perfect face, arse and boobs? Is your penis 9 inches long? Do you look like Gerard Butler? Are you as smart as Stephen Hawkings? No? Think about it.

The truest heart beats with honour and integrity despite the body it is housed in.

In a perfect world…

I’ve been reading this book about a woman fighting the never ending battle of the bulge and how it affects her psyche and the way she believes others perceive her. She cannot see herself as beautiful nor can she ever see herself as attractive to men. Then one day something happens that changes all that – it was just simply a suggestion put into her mind – a belief if you like - that was forced on her and suddenly she sees her curves and weight as something that just is and looks beyond that to the beauty of her hair and her eyes etc.

It’s a nice idea if it was a nice world we lived in. Unfortunately, the world is not nice to anyone who is perceived as different to what is considered the norm. And, while I believe positive self belief can conquer 98% of the shite that people try to force on you and try to bring you down with, there’s always that 2% that eats at you.

Shame, we still can’t seem to accept overweight people as people with a health problem and not people who like to over-eat. Shame, we have to read feel good books about mythical situations to look at what life could be like if we allowed it.

Amarinda Jones
Penn Halligan
www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book

The body okay…

…not the body beautiful but the body okay. I mention this as it was once more reinforced to me that it matters not what you look like – if you are fat or thin or tall or short or in Anny Cook’s case a blue person. Of course I always knew this…not the blue person thing until I came across Anny…but I always knew outward appearance was just the shell of a person. I personally, have a short, chunky shell…

...but, I digress…it was reinforced to me when I was at the beach in Port Douglas. There was no one on that beach – Aussie or non Aussie - who was the body beautiful. Not a soul. Maybe it was the fact that Australian beaches, and Port Douglas in particular, are very relaxed and casual.

Maybe it’s more our own perception of how we think we should look. Maybe we should all stop and think and look at those around us. Everyone is flawed. Maybe we should believe those who love us and tell us in a touch or a look they love us for who we are.

www.amarindajones.com
www.amarindajones.blogspot.com
Be daring...read an Amarinda book