How I came to accept...FAT!

This is still important! Thank you Beverly Nolan for stimulating the dialogue.

When I was 40 my daughter was born. I vowed to myself at that moment that I would NEVER say I'm FAT again. And I didn’t ever say it again. Hmmm.

Finally, after 71 years I can say I feel my own fat to be key in my power and strength to act and to be useful and dynamic in the world. A storehouse of ability and a personal layer of self that is resilient enough to let love and creativity in. A sensual layer of perception. Internal movement and freedom to feel. An ability to slide and glide in relationship.

My fat helps me love my granddaughters and to cushion them and to allow them to see a lineage of women who have struggled with this particular powerful form of oppression.

We have so long negotiated — and lost — with many of our our partners and definitely with our culture.

As women we have internalized the erroneous and oppressive thoughts we have been fed. We have turned the external oppression right back onto ourselves. What I went through getting to this place as a woman in our times!

I am watching and admiring as many of this new generation accept this mobile physical expression of their power as women. Their reserves show in their skin. In their movement. In their resilience and self acceptance. Very beautiful to watch our young women allowing themselves to be women.

Unfortunately, we are still so often asked to be static, to show up the same at all times, and to contain ourselves.

Sadly, I see many who still struggle. I know their pain and it is wrenching in my guts when I see a painfully thin lovely human walking on the beach, knowing she feels so much shame and distrust. It is painful and resonates so deeply with me.

May we all be freed of this oppressive notion that our amazing and wildly expressive and intelligent bodies must be so harshly contained.

Thank you, Beverly Nolan for reminding me to think and speak about this again...
beverlynolan.substack.com.