My Body Positive: Nicole Bastfield
My journey towards body positivity is a constant quest. Somedays, I simply adore the curves that house my heart, others, not so much. But, each day is also a wake up call to embrace my uniqueness. Sometimes, I feel like my thighs are a little too big, or that my hips are too wide. Some days, I wish that my mommy pouch would simply melt away instantly. But, then, I tune in to one of the latest reality shows and I see women by the handful using cosmetic/medical intervention to achieve the God-given curves that I inherently carry. And, I don’t say this in a braggadocios tone, but from the vantage point of what you may condemn about your body, just may be the same things that others praise. I’m slowly learning to love every inch of myself. I try to embrace my figure on a daily basis. I have employed both running and yoga as a means of toning or defining what I already have. Sure, I would love to drop a pound or ten, but if I just sit and pout about it, without actually putting in the work, I will never see results. Some days are a bit harder than others, but as I have learned from Sonya Renee Taylor, the founder of a radical movement based on body positivity, “the body is NOT an apology,” so, stop apologizing for what God has blessed you with. Walk with your head held high and live your life in bold admiration of the flesh that you have inherited.
In a society that is fixated on flat abs, small waist, and a fat derriere, it’s quite easy to get lost in a never-ending rabbit hole of seeking outward validation. We constantly feel the need to allow others to justify the worth of our bodies when we hold the key to fully accepting ourselves. At the end of the day, we are our worse critics, and regardless of how anyone else views our bodies, it is up to us to look for the positivity that lies within our own flesh and bones.
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