- Published on
"I Am More Than The Sum Of My Geometry" - mixed media on canvas, 24 x 18. Framed matte black. Available on Artfinder.
During the Unleashed event last week, I was asked which part of my body I most loved. My initial response was hands, because they both create things and do work. Then shoulders, because they don't age like all the other parts and because they are symbolic of how much I have carried on them and survived in my life. But I keep contemplating the question, and find myself, after Unleashed, discovering each part to be a favorite in one way or another. Something I would not have done before.
I've been paying more attention to the things we verbalize about our bodies. There are a lot of negative comments, a lot of humor, but very few, ok NO women around me in the last week have said something nice about their own bodies or any part of them.
So I polled a few men about their thoughts on body image. They all found themselves to be robust, super attractive, healthy and sexy people with no self-consciousness whatsoever. And a couple of these guys were members of A.A.R.P. Now a few people is not a scientific survey by any means, but I guarantee the same number of women would not have this response at all. Hmmmmm.
I am determined to think differently about my own body, and to take the time to verbalize to other women how truly beautiful, strong, sexy and resilient they are. Women can be hard on each other and themselves...I hear it, I cannot ignore it. If we are what we think, then it is time to think the things we want to be and not something less than. The human body is a miracle every day, our sensory experience of the world, a house for our spirits and a haven for our minds. Our sanctuary and our army. Our artist and our laborer.
This piece is for you, sweet ladies! We are much more than the sum of our geometry....but geometry can be a beautiful badass, too. Would love to hear from you...favorite body part?
During the Unleashed event last week, I was asked which part of my body I most loved. My initial response was hands, because they both create things and do work. Then shoulders, because they don't age like all the other parts and because they are symbolic of how much I have carried on them and survived in my life. But I keep contemplating the question, and find myself, after Unleashed, discovering each part to be a favorite in one way or another. Something I would not have done before.
I've been paying more attention to the things we verbalize about our bodies. There are a lot of negative comments, a lot of humor, but very few, ok NO women around me in the last week have said something nice about their own bodies or any part of them.
So I polled a few men about their thoughts on body image. They all found themselves to be robust, super attractive, healthy and sexy people with no self-consciousness whatsoever. And a couple of these guys were members of A.A.R.P. Now a few people is not a scientific survey by any means, but I guarantee the same number of women would not have this response at all. Hmmmmm.
I am determined to think differently about my own body, and to take the time to verbalize to other women how truly beautiful, strong, sexy and resilient they are. Women can be hard on each other and themselves...I hear it, I cannot ignore it. If we are what we think, then it is time to think the things we want to be and not something less than. The human body is a miracle every day, our sensory experience of the world, a house for our spirits and a haven for our minds. Our sanctuary and our army. Our artist and our laborer.
This piece is for you, sweet ladies! We are much more than the sum of our geometry....but geometry can be a beautiful badass, too. Would love to hear from you...favorite body part?
And I now love the way you use art and words together so compellingly.
AND I plan to explicitly talk up my magnificent body multiple times in the coming week. Thanks for the reminder.
And I'd like to share my favorite body parts...ALL of my body! Everyday I look in the mirror and tell myself "I love you, I love you body". I practiced that teaching after reading You Can Heal Your Life, by Louise Hay. Believe me, it was challenging, but oh so worth pointing out to my body and myself that I love and appreciate it everyday.
Your favorite body part practice is, of course, brilliant! I am going to swipe that idea and use it daily. Thank you for bringing radiant positivity to so many women!!!