in honor of day one of the body image course I am teaching this semester…
Why, I say, should I ever have bitterly blamed [my body]
for such trifles as I have blamed it for:
for having too much flesh in this spot, too little muscle in that, for producing this wrinkle,
that sag, that gray hair, or this texture? Dear body! My dear body!
It has gone about its incessant business with very little thanks.
-Janet Burroway
This is the opening quote at the top of the syllabus for the body image seminar I am teaching this semester. I love the reminder it gives to each of us to be grateful, thankful for our bodies- for all they endure and manage and provide. It encourages us to think differently, to use a different lens when we are looking at our bodies. There is a time that I would have looked at this photo and lamented my lack of muscle tone, my curvy figure, and the crazy hair that tops it all off (but would have also noticed that the lack of humidity that day helped out immensely). But, now, I look at this picture and see a girl who was geniunely happy for her friends getting married that day. Thanks, body.
