Monday, December 19, 2011

Dear. Body, Letter & The Love Yourself Challenge




If you were to write a letter to your body, what would you say? Maybe something like this...



I stumbled across this blog and became very interested in the message and mission of the site. I have not read through every single post but it appears to be on board with my new outlook and personal goal of bringing ED and body image awareness to the public eye. 

The blog is currently encouraging people of all ages to participate in a 6 week love yourself challenge. A description, taken directly from the site, states the following:

The Love Yourself Challenge is a positive space that respects, accepts and loves everyone where they are for who they are. This is a space that embraces every body and encourages individuals to have self-love, self-respect and self-acceptance. We are a team of young people who are determined to spread the message of self-love like wildfire and revolutionize the way our generation sees ourselves and each other. This self-love revolution starts with you and I and then it is bound to spread like wildfire igniting hope, love, respect and acceptance for all. So please always remember that you are amazing because of who you are in this very moment, not because of what you could be. Everything that you will never be is nothing close to everything that you already are. You are not the size of your jeans or the number on the scale. Your worth can never be contained by a simple lifeless number. Your body is not a battleground and you have every right to feel respected, accepted and loved in your own skin. 
Keep fighting the good fight,
Rae Smith & The Team!

How amazing is that? A group of YOUNG people dedicated to spreading positive body image messages with the rest of the world. I am very impressed, to say the least. 

So I have decided to participate in the challenge. It's only 6 weeks and takes a short amount of time each day/week, yet I have a feeling it will make a big impact. Even though I am a few years into recovery I am a firm believer that revisiting these topics regularly is what will keep me on the right path, forever. 

You might have never struggled with an ED, but could you use a little more self love in your life? Do you want to start 2012 with a fresh outlook and put self criticism to rest once and for all? Want to wake up and start loving your body instead of ripping it apart, one negative comment at a time? Then I encourage you to participate with me. Take the challenege. What do you have to loose? I guarantee you will be no worse off after 6 weeks and you will probably learn something in the process. 

Details of the challenge are described here. 

All you need:
6 weeks
Someone you trust (spouse, family member, friend)
A journal and a pen (I know... I am not the journal type, and if this is you, let's just get over it together)
An open mind, honesty and determination
Perseverance when things get challenging

I will be completing the challenge for the first 6 weeks of 2012, beginning on Sunday January 1st and then will be blogging about my experience and sharing my Dear. Body, letter (will be writing during week 5) with you all.  

So... Who's in? 
If you choose to participate, and have a website, please blog about your experience and link up so we can all read and celebrate with one another. 
Heres to kicking off a happy and healthy 2012!



5 comments

  1. What a great challenge! I have to say that I could use a little more self love. After two babies my body is so foreign to me. Luckily I have a husband who loves me unconditionally, maybe I need to listen to him more.

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  2. This is such an awesome idea! I heard about your blog from Sarah (Bearing, Eating, Being) and had to check it out. I am hooked! I am also pregnant and in recovery from an ED, so your blog has been an awesome tool for me. I love the idea of this project! One of the lines in the Dear Body that you shared really made sense me! "You are so loyal to me and take care of the most important part of me, and for that I am forever grateful." Especially being pregnant now and having my body care for and protect my baby, I'm suddenly learning to love and appreciate my body in ways I never would have imagined I could. I can't wait to start this! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I've been learning not to love myself, but to see myself through the eyes of my Father. It's been a beautiful journey!


    Stopping by to say Merry Christmas!
    - Ashley Pichea

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  4. We need way more of this. Especially as women. If we want to teach our children about love, respect and happiness, we have to be living it. I do want to be kinder to myself and I will. Thanks for the reminder.

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  5. I love the challenge of "loving your body" more this year! As a youth pastor, I am always trying to teach young women to love the skin they are in and treat their body with respect. A healthy perspective on our physical body is evidence of a spirit that is seeing through the eyes of God. I look forward to following your challenge.

    Merry Christmas!

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