Isn't it wonderful how the spoken words of other human beings spark new ideas in us? Even if the spoken words were uttered decades ago? And in completely different contexts? I came across a phrase recently spoken by Martin Luther King, Jr. at a 1958 speech he gave at the University of California, Berkeley. King […]
"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 […]
Some noticings during my first week of giving up "beauty sickness" for Lent: Thursday night we ordered wood-fired pizza from our favorite local spot. My husband (whose permission I have to tell this story) crisps the crust in our cast iron pan while I whip up a salad. We have this meal down to a […]
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. However, I am stuck […]
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 and men aren't ridiculed […]
I was 12 and so was he. I was a scrawny, scrappy, happy, athletic kid. My body was strong and it felt powerful when I ran or swam or played. I was not at all self-conscious about it. Puberty was on the horizon, but not yet a reality. I was at my friend's lake cabin […]
