Saturday, February 26, 2011

Embrace Your Body!

For National Eating Disorders Awareness Week my university decided to take a more positive spin and coin "Embrace Your Body Week".  I was lucky enough to be close friends with some of the girls organizing the events and was able to participate in a lot.  The idea is loving your body the way it was made naturally and given to you.  We are all made differently.  We all come in varying shapes, sizes, and colors but it's these unique features that make YOU beautiful.

One particular event that was close to my personal experience was a panel held on campus to answer questions about Eating Disorders, in order to help those struggling or know someone who is.  I know sounds depressing, but the panel was actually lighthearted at times and really refreshing!  The panelists, who were comprised of 3 amazing ladies who are dear friends of mine, were able to engage the audience in an interactive discussion about the pressure of media, culture, family and friends to be "good enough" or "okay".  In this day and age being "good enough" means having it all; including that perfect body.  People, especially young people, are always feeling pressured to do more and our bodies is one area we unfortunately think we can control.  



The media and messages we all take as "truth" now are killing society.  Yes we were able to laugh at some of the outrageous messages our media contributes to society but at the end of the day we all fall victim to it.  We are creating a generation of people who chase superficialities, thinking it will bring them happiness, but in the end turn out unhappy anyways, still searching for an answer.  They end up unhappy, tired and often unhealthy.  Obesity isn't killing our children.  Pressure is killing our children.  Stress is ruining our families.  Shame is making America fat, not just physically but fat of sadness and distress.

The media industry isn't changing anytime soon.  We have to change.  We have to start showing less support to the messages that tell us "you aren't okay" and stand up for ourselves.  We are all perfect in our own ways.  If we all could learn to just love our bodies, offering ourselves compassion when we need it, the world would be a much happier place.

Embrace your body today!

Keep ordering,

B