Healthy is the New Skinny.

Random thoughts on body shapes and body image...

During the past few years, I've noticed a definite shift in body image perceptions and what men and women find attractive.  For women, skinny is out.  Healthy is in.  People seem to be accepting that everyone's body shapes are simply different.  My healthy body may be curvy (and it is), yours might be straight.  I think the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty hit the nail on the head, showing women who are every size and shape loving their own bodies.  I don't personally know any women who simply want to be skinny now.  That seems to only be in style for models...and who even knows why?!  I love that men are noticing when women are far too slim and not finding it attractive.  It is allowing us (ladies) to feel beautiful regardless of size or shape.  I work out most days of the week.  I have hips.  I will always have them.  I could run miles each day and that's simply my body shape.  And that's OK.  :)

The same goes for men, I think.  I've had multiple discussions lately in which women have mentioned their attraction to HEALTHY men, but not BULKY men.  Sure, there are some exceptions, some women who like the body-builder physique. But most of my friends find that large-ness unnatural and not very attractive.  There is more focus on appreciating a man's natural body shape as well.  As long as he's healthy, we don't need men to look like they have to spend hours in the gym or get 'roided out to get "big".  It's simply not so attractive.

As a side note, the only time I tend to wish for another body shape is when I really love some fashionable item of clothing and it's simply made for someone straight and tall.  It's not a big deal, because there are SO many apparel options out there now for women of all shapes and sizes...trying to wear something shaped for a model-body will simply make me look silly instead of fashionable.  At the same time, I really wish there were high-end designers out there who held runway shows without the size 00 starved-looking models.  Show me clothing on women of various shapes and sizes.  Model those Victoria's Secret underwear on ladies shaped like those who actually buy it.  Show me how anybody of any size/shape can look amazingly in-style.  If someone would do that, I swear they'd have a giant following.  Maybe some designer does this and I'm not aware...but it's definitely needed.

Random thoughts over.   For now.

Year to Best: Act #26 - Learn the small lessons...

Part of this beautiful year to my best has been simply taking time to breathe in the small lessons, to let them sink in.  These are random thoughts that have made my last month meaningful.

Be a kid.
It's easy to get caught up in being a grown-up.  We have things to do, bills to pay, people to see.  Sometimes it is amazing to step back and see the joy children have over the small things.  Tomorrow doesn't matter.  Today is amazing.  It's fun to jump, and yell, and show joy for the sake of joy. I am lucky enough to have friends around me with children so I can love their kid-ness infinitely!

Be interested.
This is not something I have much trouble with, honestly.  Just about everything interests me.  But sometimes we don't ask all the questions we'd like for fear of looking silly or ignorant.  Every new person I meet is like a new door opening to a world of information.  Some of them must think my sudden interest in their lives, homes, and jobs are strange.  I can't help it.  I am curious.  Getting answers to the most random of questions is like lightbulb moment after lightbulb moment.  So in my efforts to keep being interested, I will keep asking questions.  You have all been warned.

Allow yourself to have joy about the little things.
Like new socks.
And freshly-washed bedsheets.
And warm cookies.
And matching pajama sets.
ALL SO EXCITING!

Give.  It feels good.
I always want to volunteer or give to good causes, but I get bogged down in all the details.  Who should I choose to donate to?  Where should I volunteer?  There are too many options.  How can I be most effective?  Will they use my money well?  Will it make any difference? On, and on, and on.  Maybe I should take a note from Jim Carrey in "Yes Man" and just start saying yes when the opportunity to give is presented to me.  When Hurricane Sandy hit the northeast, my office had a chance to donate money to the Red Cross for relief.  We did.  Some of my book club friends were able to donate blood, so they did.  My office has the chance to help an Atlanta organization feed the hungry for Thanksgiving, help a family in need experience Christmas, and deliver meals to elderly and disabled people.  So, we just said yes.  Do I know that it will all be terrific?  Nope.  Am I glad we're willing to give?  Yep.

Let things sink into your heart.
I read a lot.  Every day.  I read quickly, and sometimes I don't let things sink in.  So sometimes it's nice to switch to poetry or something that makes me spend more time with words and ideas.  I saw a quote from Rumi that made my heart swell, and I've been meditating on it for probably two weeks now.
"Set your life on fire.
Seek those who fan your flames."
The simplicity of this stuns me. The power of it stuns me.  And every day, I wonder if I am setting my life on fire.  And if I am surrounding myself with people who fan those flames and make me stronger.  The more I meditate on it, the more it becomes real.  It takes time to let this sort of idea sink into me, become internal...so I know I have to be patient.  Give it time.

Do things you're bad at.  So you get less bad.
I am not a good painter.  I don't know how to ballroom dance.
But I will keep doing both.  And I will improve!

That's a lot of little lessons for one month...