Revolt!

There’s a revolution happening and whether or not you realize; you’re a part of it. Your thoughts, actions, and words determine which side you’re on. Are you okay with feeling like you’ll never measure up to the standard of beauty or are you ready to break down that standard and open it up.  It’s known by a few different names; “Body Acceptance Movement” will get you the most results in a Google search.  I prefer “The Body Love Movement”.  According to the second edition of The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, “to accept” means “to accommodate or reconcile oneself to”.  Revolutions, however, aren't about accommodations- they’re about change. This is where I ask you to stand on the side with me. On the side of unapologetic, unconditional love for your body, and nonjudgmental appreciation for the bodies of others. . Oddly, we are much more accepting of other people than we are of ourselves, which is why we’re starting here.

We've all heard people say “But it’s what inside that counts” *cough*bullshit. Your body is just as much a part of who you are as your mind and heart are. After all, it’s the first thing people see and in most cases will determine how people treat you. I’m not just talking about the increasingly popular fat shaming. But also about comments intended to be compliments such as: “I hate that you can eat whatever you want and not gain a pound”, “You would look pretty with your hair straight”, or “Did you lose weight? You look great!” these are all based solely on physical appearances.

Think for a minute about the number of compliments you get based on a physical feature compared to something less obvious. I am complimented almost daily on my hair; however, I am rarely told how witty I am. Now, think about how often you give compliments that are based on a physical features compared to a character? Yes, I come up short as well.

This is where it starts. Try it for the next 30 days but don’t be hard on yourself – habits take a long time to set it. We’ll try to sincerely compliment others on attributes other than physical features. We’re just getting started. Change takes time, a revolution needs soldiers. Where are you gonna stand?