let’s talk body image #Fridayreflections

OK let’s be honest here, hands up if you have ever put yourself down about how you look? About the shape of your body? Hands up if you have ever spoken badly about your body image in front of a young impressionable girl, or even a boy? Hands up if you look in the mirror and feel resentment towards yourself for how your body looks? Perhaps you avoid mirrors, and scales as much as possible, or maybe you weigh yourself far too often? Hands up if you have received unwanted comments from another person about your body? Hands up if you see models, pop stars or television personalities and wish you were thinner, curvier, had smaller or larger breasts, longer legs, or a tinier waist?

OK yes I confess, my hand is up! I have put myself down way too often. As a teen I was never happy with my body, my mum used to get so mad at me when I would complain I had nothing to wear! But the truth is what I was really saying was I had nothing to wear that I felt good enough in! I think as a young girl entering her teens (and I am not excluding boys as I know they feel it too, I am just talking from a female perspective here), it is such a confronting and confusing time. Between body changes, hormones going wild, people making comments about our bodies, men starting to stare at us, teenage boys acting like immature idiots (OK not all, but I remember quite a few jokes about tampons or anything else a teenage boys finds funny), and just our own general insecurities, it is a tough, but exciting time. Some girls take it in their stride. Just like some women don’t obsess over their bodies and handle unwanted male attention without worrying. But other girls get overwhelmed and many women don’t enjoy men or other women making unwanted judgements over their bodies. Many people seem to think it is OK to comment on someone else’s weight, or the way they look. Whether they think they are coming from a good place, or whether they are just insecure about their own bodies and want you to be too, it is up to you to either take it on board or whether to tell others that it really isn’t their concern, perhaps tell them “as long as I am healthy, I’m happy”, or “I feel really great with the way I look”, that will usually shut them up. And this goes for comments on being too thin also!

Click to Tweet: It is not OK to make unwanted comments about other peoples bodies.

One of the Friday Reflections prompts this week was to write a letter to your daughter about body image. This is the prompt I have chosen to explore today, although I have to say, it isn’t just our daughters we should be addressing. I think whether we have a daughter or not we are still role models for the next generation. Comments that are insensitive about body image just shouldn’t be shared with girls or boys, women or men.

Click to Tweet: Comments that are insensitive about body image just shouldn’t be shared with girls or boys, women or men. 

I have two daughters. Here is my letter to them.

To my darling girls.

Your minds are bright, full of wonder, curiosity, happiness and beauty, your bodies are the place  that supports your minds and your souls. You are not solely your body, you are so much more.

your body is your sanctuary 

it is your safe place, it is a place to worship and a place to respect. You were created and made through love, through prayers and wishes and dreams, you are everything you are meant to be and your body is here to carry you through the amazing life you are to have.

Nurture your body, show it respect, fill it with kindness, joy and love. Use it to dance, to play, to learn, fuel it with healthy foods and delicious foods, and keep moving through life. Dance like you are a free spirit, climb mountains, see the beauty of this world through your eyes, and listen to what the universe is telling you. But also let your body rest, let it refuel, let it embrace your soul and let your mind be quiet. Give yourself permission to recharge and then when you are ready allow your body to sing.

Your body is yours. Unwanted comments will come, just let them loose on the breeze of life. Only allow people into your hearts that deserve to be there. Only allow those who respect you, who will give you your space, and who will be thankful to be part of your life, to be the ones allowed to touch you or hold you. 

Your bodies are beautiful, don’t fill them with unkind words, love yourself, respect yourself, be kind to yourself, and to each other, for you are both unique, and you are both exactly who you are meant to be. As your mother I couldn’t love you more, as a woman I couldn’t be more in awe of who you both are. 

Love always your mum xx

To all women, love yourselves, nurture yourselves, be proud of your bodies and all they have allowed you to do, and for all you are yet to experience. Be kind to yourselves and inspire the next generation to be proud of whatever shape they are blessed with.

I’d love to hear your feedback. Perhaps write a letter to your child, your niece or a friend, even to yourself. You don’t have to share it, but is a great way to learn to appreciate your own body and respect other peoples bodies too.

Thanks for joining me, love Mackenzie xx

Welcome to the Friday Reflections Linky. 

Friday Reflections is a prompt led linking, posts can only be linked up if they are related to the prompts below.

– In homage to Friday the 13th, tell us a real life spooky story!
– Write a letter to your daughter about body image
– Pretend you are a tourist in your own town. Head out for a road trip with your camera, take some pics, and write about it.
– Share your favourite affirmation/s. Why do you love them or how do they help you?

You may link up one post per week, each week we share new prompts with you. You can find these on the Friday Reflections Facebook Page, or on either Janine’s or my posts each week.

Make sure you comment of the hosts posts and two others please using the #Fridayreflections. If you tweet @Fridayreflect we will retweet any tweets.

Follow us on Twitter @Fridayreflect @Janineripper and @macglanville 

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