Friday, October 19, 2007

National Love Your Body Day

In honor of National Love Your Body Day, I want to remind my readers to take the "I Love My Body" pledge.

Then check out the Love Your Body show.

Then do something fun for your body today--take a walk, eat some chocolate, go dancing,sunbathe (well, not if you live in Wisconsin). Be kind to your body and yourself. Doctor Harriet's orders.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the reminder!
and the links!
I blogged a little about it, and I posted a little exercise in "fakin' it 'till you make it" for those having a hard time loving their bodies, and an exercise in listing all of the wonderful things your body does, which I found really helpful.
Happy Love you Body day!

Anonymous said...

I think I need to FORCE FEED myself that pledge on, like, an hourly basis sometimes. I've mastered never putting down my body in front of others, other than possibly my shrink, but I still catch myself doing things like looking at pictures from my brother's wedding and saying, "All these lovely, slim, upper-middle-class people and I'm the only FAT PIG LOW CLASS TRASH in the room!" It has to stop, or it will kill me. Thank you, Harriet!

And I can't fathom feminists (like Katha Pollitt) who think LYBD is stupid or trivial. How lucky they are to have always felt acceptable!

Anonymous said...

I wish I could tattoo that on the inside of my eyelids or something - but I guess I'll just have to be content with taping it to my bedroom door and promising to read it everytime I walk out to start the day.

Harriet said...

Ouch, Meowser. That hurt, mainly because I can relate so well. We women do self-loathing so damn well. It helps to have the company of you all to kick the habit with.

I'm always astonished at the power of words, even the words you say to yourself quietly in the middle of the night. I'll be taking the pledge too, whenever I feel that self-loathing coming back on.

mary said...

Thanks Harriet.
I really like the link to "one year of writing and healing". I'm going there!
Fake it till I make it, oddly enough, was one of my daughter's favorite mantras. She basically tuned ED right out and focused on healing herself. It's OUR job dammit! Maybe I went overboard but I truly believe that being able to say "I love you" to ourselves when we need it is one of the most healing 3 words we can give to our health. This goes beyond the body and seeps into the soul.
I think the ED gives esteem quite a beating and any and every affirmation for ourselves sends a powerful message that we won't be knocked down by ourselves. Others, sure, but we are the keepers of these bodies however odd they make look at times.
Thanks for reminding us to celebrate! Bodies really are works of art no matter the shape.

Lisa Romeo said...

Love the pledge. Easy to read, not so easy to believe, unfortunately, but I'm working on it every day. I keep telling myself that my body has been strong, good and resilient -- being pregnant and delivering two kids, nursing babies, healing after broken bones; able to do a lot of physical tasks without breaking down; provides me with enjoyment (bicycling, walking, hugs, sex, etc.). I think there are stick-thin gals out there whose bodies couldn't do half as much, so I try to be grateful for my body's positive qualities.

Harriet said...

You're awesome, Lisa R.!

Anonymous said...

Love the pledge! Just linked to it from my site. I thought today (Sunday) was Love Your Body Day, but turns out that's just in Hollywood CA!