oh, SHORTS! and by the way, BODIES

People who know me well will be surprised to see this outfit, because I haven't really worn shorts in a very long time. This is largely due to the fact that one day, I decided that I just felt too self-conscious about my legs to have them on display like that. Since then, the way I see my body has changed, but my no-shorts habit has not. But yesterday, I acquired two pairs, and I like them a lot!

One interest of mine that I'd really like to explore through this blog is my interest in promoting body positivity. We talk about body image a lot these days, and it seems that almost everyone at least thinks that they know what eating disorders are all about. Still, with the amount of body negativity out there and the amount of time most of us have spent feeling that our bodies are somehow wrong, I think it's extremely important for those of us who believe in the cause to speak up and unpack all of that nasty negative bull so we can eventually get rid of it altogether.

Beliefs and practices that I believe conflict with body positivity:

1) Assigning qualities to numbers. That is, measuring the beauty, strength, and/or overall value of a body in pounds, inches, calories consumed, or clothing size.

2) Putting down other people's bodies. This includes saying things like "I can see her ribs, it's disgusting," and "She has such a pretty face, she'd be beautiful if she lost some weight."

3) Buying into the idea that you can - and should - "transform" your body. The fact is, your body is your body. Even if you lose a bunch of weight or gain a bunch of muscle, there are certain things that will always stay the same. Also, transforming your body is not the same as transforming your life.


4) Following strict rules for what you can/cannot do/wear based on what your body looks like. Thanks to Clinton and Stacy, I'm pretty good at finding clothes that look good on my body - but this doesn't mean that those are always the clothes that I'm the most interested in wearing. I'd much rather spend energy on looking interesting than on looking thin. Also, we often create rules for ourselves that simply don't make sense, like my no shorts rule.

I have been guilty of all of these things. I am hoping to change my ways and to replace these negative beliefs and practices with worthwhile, positive, helpful thoughts and actions. To anyone who is interested in doing the same, or has questions/comments/points of debate for me, please let me know! I am always up for discussing body image and related issues.

One thing I wish everyone could agree on: Feeling good about yourself and others is only a good thing. It is not "self-indulgent" or "delusional" to like yourself and to appreciate your body. Criticizing yourself and feeling badly toward your body won't help you look better or "succeed." AGH. It drives me up the wall when people (myself included) think/announce, "But if I stop freaking out about being fat, I'll get fatter!" No. Just, no.

AND OH HEY CHECK THIS OUT:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ProjectLifesize
I have been hooked on this channel for over a year, and it has helped transform the way I think about all of this! It's not all about bodies, but body positivity was at the root of its creation, and they have some extremely helpful/interesting/funny/heartfelt things to say.

Hat: on clearance at Urban Outfitters
Shirt: Gap
Belt: Target
Shorts: J. Crew

Photo Cred: Lil Sis. Thanks : )