Your body is perfect.

Perfect? Really?

Yep. Perfect.

We have been conditioned to believe there is a "right" way to exist in our bodies. And even worse, we have attached morality to this "right" way of being. So if our body doesn't look or function like some arbitrary, made-up idea in our minds not only are our bodies "wrong"; but we as people are "bad". 

This patriarchal conditioning directly harms people of color, fat folks, disabled folks, and those that live with chronic illness (among others). And it's only a nonsensical social construct. So please, for the love of the universe, stop talking about loosing weight, not liking your body, or wanting to look differently.

A much healthier way to think about and discuss our own bodies is to think about their functionality. How is your body functioning? Would you like it to be stronger? Awesome! Let's work towards that. Would you like to be able to walk up the stairs without huffing and puffing? Sweet! I want that for you, too! Would you like to wake up in the morning with less body aches? Yasss! Let's see what we can do. Would you like to better regulate your hormones? Great! Let's eat foods that help with that. Would you like your pants to fit better? Nifty! Let's buy new pants. Would you like your face to be thinner? Hmmm... why do you think that? All bodies are different and there's nothing more attractive, more right, nor more healthy about a thinner face. What you look like is the least interesting thing about you. (Please note: it is never okay to talk about someone else's body.)

My point: there is no one in the universe who has a better body than you do. Any of the ways that we compare bodies are social constructs and not universal truth. 

A practice for changing how you think about, talk about and talk to your body: Inhale deeply, pause, and exhale slowly. Inhale deeply, pause, and exhale slowly. On your next inhale say silently or aloud, "Thank you ________ (body, tummy, stretch marks, double chin, arms, legs, hands, etc.) for being there for me." On your exhale say, "I am here for you, also." Repeat this several times. And then repeat this exercise for several days until it feels comfortable. Come back to it whenever you need.

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Things I missed while traveling.

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I think God is actually Love.