Living in the Forest, Dreaming in the Ocean

One of the things I’d like to work on this year on a day to day basis-as I’m sure most of us would, no matter how big or small of an issue it is to each of us individually-is being more body positive. I’ve noticed that people (including myself) say things like “my hips are too big”, and “my boobs are too small”, and “my feet are weird”. Well shoot, people! What the heck are you even comparing yourselves to?! Too small for what? Too big compared to WHAT. Weird as opposed to….normal…? What even is “normal”? I think we all need to pause and think for a second: every single human is unique. Plain and simple. Next time you catch yourself people watching, just think about how each individual has proportions and feet and hips and boobs and butts that are so completely different from the person next to them-including yourself. We are all just a random assortment of genes and molecules and everything else that makes us us! And isn’t that just incredible? 

So. What kinds of standards are we comparing ourselves to and where do these standards even come from? Sure, there are lots of possible sources-society?, fashion?, culture?, media? But Who even decides on these standards? Well I think that should be you. If you’re going to compare yourself to any standards, they should be your own healthy, awesome standards. This year, I aim to have a useful, purposeful, healthy body. A body I can run for miles with without hurting or tiring; a body I can hike with for miles, to carry a backpack and trek through nature and take my eyes to see incredible sites and let my lungs breathe in all the fresh mountain air; a body to love with and to be loved with; a body that helps me achieve my goals; a body I feel good about for myself because I feel healthy.