"Whatever one frequently ponders becomes the inclination of the mind."  (The Buddha) Buddha's statement sums up the essence of why I am on a quest to give up "beauty sickness." If my mind is constantly pondering how I look, what I weigh, how my body compares to other bodies, these will become the topics my […]

For all my female friends facing the trauma of buying a swimsuit. A repost ... ********************* Spring may finally be spring-ing. You know what that means? Swim suit season is just around the corner. The catalogs arrive and women shudder.  Men, I have to believe, don't give it a second thought. Have you ever heard […]

A really important repost: A friend of mine from my days at Northwestern University (thanks, Mary!) suggested I look into the research of a current psychology professor at our Alma Mater. Dr. Renee Engeln wrote a book called Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women. I cannot recommend it more highly. […]

Another repost ... ********************** I have written a couple posts about body shaming I experienced during my childhood. I could write a thousand more; many more recent.  There is a toxin in our culture that provides men both the freedom and permission to comment on women's bodies.  I, in no way, believe that young boys […]

As swimsuit season approaches here in the Midwest, I want to revisit some posts about girl's and women's bodies from a couple years ago. Posts about shame, about the male gaze, about the hidden trauma women often carry in our very souls about our beautiful, glorious, powerful bodies. Men, I love you, but please pay […]