So, Bucket and I participated in the Family Body Project (from University of Oregon).
It's a program that youth and parents can participate in to help foster a healthy body image. Our group (which was made up of AWESOME moms and daughters) had discussions and assignments to help us recognize and acknowledge the high cost (physically, financially, mentally, and emotionally) of aspiring to society's unattainable standard of beauty.
As an exit assignment, one thing that I chose to do (and am inflicting on you) is to compile a list of things that I like that my body can do.
Here goes ...
- Luxuriate in warm baths
- Enjoy scented candles (visually and olfactorally)
- Pet cats and other animals
- Smell flowers and foods
- Enjoy flavors and textures of food
- Hear (and feel) cats' purring
- Curl up and read books
- Cook food for myself and others
- Do the grocery shopping (and unload the car)
- Have the ability to clean our house (and enjoy a functional space that works for us)
- Come up with witty responses
- Read aloud/tell stories (an online group of wonderful ladies complimented me on my pleasant speaking voice. Aww!!)
- Singing
- Swimming
- Enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin
- Using the internet and technology
- Sitting and eating popcorn as I watch movies with my family
- Getting to help take care of my mom
- Giving hugs (which I don't get to do so much because ... pandemic)
- Dancing
- Walking on the beach, with the salty air tangling my hair, tasting the ocean on my lips
- Snuggling (and [redacted]) with my husband
- Putting lotion on my hands
- Walking barefoot on the grass or in the sand
- Practicing penmanship
- Eating chocolate
- Serve others
- Craft letters
- Grew three healthy children and nursed them (not always easy)
- Remember and recite movie and TV quotes
And that's where I'm going to stop for now.
