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In our culture in particular, (but not in every culture), we have created many layers of stigmatization around so much of our bodies. Bodies have become territory for shame or anxiety for many of us, instead of seen as our life-long, constant and sacred vessel, or companion. Our culturally-preferred story is of youth, strength, competence, vigor, like ancient Greek beauty and ideals of perfection. This lends us feelings of assuredness, that all is well, instead of being okay with things being imperfect, which may trigger vulnerability and shame. Often a large amount of self-identification and relational identification occurs around our bodies. I notice this shows up in these areas of difference, but there could be more: -Normal, healthy physiological functions: often around digestion, sexuality, bodily secretions (ie sweat, nasal mucous, also menstrual fluids and sexual fluids) We prefer to keep our insides in, but that is not how bodies evolved to function. -Aging -Ability levels -Being a non-majority race in a regional context -Gender expression difference -Failing to conform to body beauty ideals in terms of fat, fitness, weakness, awkwardness/ dyskinesia. But especially fat. A lot gets projected onto and assumed about large bodied people. -Congenital, or brain-based or injury-related body difference from scoliosis and feelings of crookedness, neuro-diverse lack of kinesthetic awareness. I wonder: Perhaps we judge what we fear, and fear what we cannot control Lack of control = Vulnerability, risk and instability, difference I also wonder: how much we may define our social value in human relationships based on our bodies and appearances? A step forward: Can we meet our bodies with: Patience, Appreciation, Enjoyment Humour, Compassion, Listening and responsive care, instead of othering ourselves, enforcing externalized demands and criticism? A further step forward: Can we also meet other's bodies with the same kindness? We have a lot of cultural healing to do around so much body dysphoria, spanning ages and genders, impacting mental health. Becoming: How do we become the individual living organism that we are, instead of the conforming mold that we may continually encounter through life? What thoughts can we offer to ourselves and then others? -Can we see ourselves as beautiful as any piece of nature, just as we are? -Can we see that perhaps our beauty may also lie in our experience and expression of joy, creativity and intelligence? -Can we see ourselves as we would see another, with caring? -Can we word appreciation to this vessel, for each changing moment it has given us in this earthly experience? -Can we forgive it and hold humour- for gases that emit when we don't want them to, for our sensitive nervous systems that may show emotions we wish they wouldn't, for sweaty armpits, leaking periods, sexuality changes with age and wrinkles around our eyes that show years of responding to the world? -Can we love that self and can that be beauty? -Can the gasses which leave us be a small part of our interconnected taking in and eliminating of things? Seriously. I mean, yes, you can still open a window if need be, but don't shame yourself for it anymore. -Can we get to know our anatomy and physiology, and see how much nature we Are, regardless of living the most modern of lives? -Can we bless body diversity? -Can we see how life challenges, not personality defects may cause unwanted changes in our bodies and have compassion for what they have been through? The body being. Hopefully we also know being-ness. Hopefully we have had Sundays where we can relax and just be, languorous, drinking and eating leisurely, taking time to just take it all in, feeling the weight or texture of our clothing, the way the light meets the air around us, the way we may lie or stretch across a supportive surface, or slowly, slowly roll in bed or on the floor. The way creek water may flow around our legs, sun warming our back, the heat of a hot mug of tea entering our chilled hands and permeating us to our core, the vigour in our legs on a up-hill hike. The safe, warm touch of a loved one. Further Recommended Reading: Oppression and The Body: Roots, resistance and Revolutions
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