As I was scrolling through Facebook recently, I came upon a page called The Body is Not an Apology. We all think that our bodies are way less than perfect, so I had a look at this group. I was so delighted at what I saw; it’s about an acceptance, a love, of our bodies.
From their Facebook page:
One stop shop for affirmation and reminders to love your rolls, your back hair, your calluses, the smooth skin where a left breast used to be. We believe that each time one of us unapologetically owns our beauty, loves our scars, heals our shame; we in turn give others permission to do the same!
We believe that discrimination, social inequality and injustice are manifestations of our inability to make peace with the body, our own and others. The Body is Not an Apology fosters global, radical, unapologetic self love which translates to radical human action in service toward a more just and compassionate world.
The Unapologetic Posse is the motley crew of people across the globe who have decided to live unapologetically in their own skin. This decision was made regardless of body type, race, sexual orientation, physical ability, age or any other difference. By simply being on this page you have joined the posse.
I know that accepting my body, with all of its flaws, is a monumental task that takes a great deal of my time as I consider a thought completely foreign to me – that my body is ok just the way it is.
I have a habit of blaming Madison Avenue and the spin doctors who bombard us with young, beautiful, perfectly shaped women to act as our epitome model as we move through our lives, trying to find that nirvana.
Lifelong exposure to these beautiful models has led us to forget that these women are not real. Their pictures have been digitally corrected to resemble perfection. I often refer to two of my favourite videos from Dove skin products,
Evolution
So I can see that it’s not just a model’s face that’s airbrushed, but her body too. Maybe her body is even more airbrushed. And this is the perfection for which I strive? But it’s all FAKE!!
The Facebook page of The Body is Not an Apology has a message for us:
Have a look at the page – it contains some amazing photos of women who have large bodies. The amazing part, of course, is that their bodies are beautiful, no matter what their size.
Our successes in life cannot be based on our body shape. We need to stop apologizing for our bodies and get some comfort in our own skin. We need to accept ourselves first before we can expect others to accept us.
Our body that houses who we are is our only connection to daily life. Our body gives us some spectacular experiences, no matter what its shape. My body supports my life. And your life. Stop apologizing for it.
© Marcia Barhydt, 2013
