My Body is Revolting - a Confession

 

We were heading out of a very noisy eatery - having sat through lunch knees-to-noses with a shit load whole lot of businessfolk - when Slightly-British Daughter said something I couldn't quite hear (because of the noise).

It was even harder to hear her because she was curled in on herself - kinda like a daughter ball.

"Whaaaat?" I asked shoutishly (again, because of the noise).

Then I heard her. In between gasps of laughter (and this wasn't even a drinking lunch) she explained that her arms and legs weren't working with her - they were in revolt, so she'd said: "my body is revolting". And realized, as the words came out, that those words had more than one meaning.

Funny.

Not so funny: I struggle with that feeling sometimes - the "my body is revolting" thing.

Ok, I don't actually (usually) feel that my body is revolting, but as I get older I'm less than thrilled with some of the changes my body is making. I mean - gravity.

And here's my confession: I recently doctored a photo before sharing it on Instagram (see photos above and below). Gasp!

I didn't exactly give myself a Photoshop facelift - or attach my head to the body of a 20 year old. What I did do was kinda sorta hide my chin(s).

That wasn't even my original intention. I was just trying to frame a photo so that the squirrel in my head stood out. About that squirrel (so you don't think I'm completely nuts) - the photo was my silly response to The idea Room's Instagram photo-a-day prompt: "in my head".

So, as I messed with framing the photo (full confession) I got kind of excited about hiding my chin(s). When I realized how much it mattered to me to hide those chins I decided to confess.

Because I could imagine that, unconfessed, I'd find myself hiding more and more things more and more often.

When I read my friend Jane Cunningham's pro- aging balm post about aging (which made me want to cheer, spin and dance naked in the moonlight!) I decided it was time to share my confession (which had been sitting around waiting to be finished for weeks).

In Jane's post she declares: "I am going to go all Wabi Sabi on the war against aging women. I will not hide this - I want my daughters to feel beautiful when they are my age. I want them to know beauty is more than porcelain skin and pert breasts. No platitudes about what shines from the inside will do in this surface loving world."

Oh, let's join with Jane! (Read Jane's pro- again balm!!!)

Let's LIVE this!

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Want some more Jane? Read our Interview with Jane Cunningham.

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Like this post? Check out the Body-Image/Body Love category (listed on right side of the blog) for similar body lovin' posts. Psst - they're often light-hearted, because awareness and acceptance (huge components of Love) often involve giggling.

Here are some from our Body-Part Wednesday series:

Fun Feet
My Left Breast, this one was written by my friend Luna (aka Maripat Oberg)
Body-Part Wednesday V (Shoulders)

Want some playful tools and exercises (and stories!) to amp up awareness, acceptance and connection with YOUR body?

Check out Choosing Me! Body Connection ~ Body Love., our MP3 recording & transcript (there's a free preview button in the middle of the page!).

Comments

[Kelly Gill]

The chin(s). Oh, I'm becoming well acquainted with those chin(s), and I'm not really fond of them. Why? Because, according to society's image of beauty, they tell others how old I am. The slight sag in my neck tells my secret. See, (now get really close so that I can whisper 'cause we women aren't supposed to share this age thing) I'm 45. I can pass for somewhere between 35-38 - who wouldn't want to shave ten or so years off their age. But here's the deal on that: My body KNOWS she's 45. She feels the almost half century she's been walking this earth, learning and growing and moving and being. She wants to claim and live the rewards and wisdom of being around 45 years. But the vain part of me says, "No way, Jose!" Really, when I think about this age thing ("it's just a number", or so everyone says) it is a bit ridiculous that I care about the number. I don't FEEL 45. But when I think about that statement, I wonder, "How do I know I 'don't feel 45'? How does 45 feel?" My answer to that question, at least for me, is that my 45 feels just like I am. So I guess my 45-feeling is filled with the energy and rambunctiousness of a 35 year old. Hell yeah! I'll take that and run with it. ... Thanks for sharing your honest here, Karen. It's not an easy thing to do, sharing those little vanity bits about ourselves. But from your sharing, I gained a little supportive strength for my own battle of the chins. Love you, dear.

[Kimberley McGill]

My chins salute your chins! Love your confession Karen!I've taken lots of self-portraits aiming from above so my chins don't get the spotlight - so you are the first to hear my confession!!

[Sheila Bergquist]

So brave of you to be so honest about your photo. I think we are all vain to some degree and maybe that's not such a bad thing...maybe it's more pride than vanity...I don't know. But I know we all want to look our best. However, as I've gotten older, I seem to not care as much. Odd, I know. But I still will go through dozens of pictures to find the "best" one, so there you go! Loved this article!

[Sandy]

"all Wabi Sabi on the war against aging women."... love this. Your lighthearted authenticity is powerful. Keep doing what you do!