Sunday, August 7, 2011

PHENOMENAL

Today is Body Positive Day! And...I'm just remembering. doh. Despite having blogged that I would post today to check in with what I did to recognize this day, I completely forgot. No excuses, really. I just didn't remember.

We were too busy just...doing. Cleaning the house, reading books, riding bikes, making popsicles. It was a Sunday, you know?

And then, as it sometimes happens, my brain kicked in and I remembered. I looked back on my day and realized, you know what, despite not having remembered to actively be body positive, I totally was. My body lifted laundry baskets, had ticklefests with my son (trust me, a lot of muscles are involved in those),  rode a bike, climbed up and down stairs numerous times, and I even squeezed in a little yoga.

Ever since I became pregnant and had my son, I've changed the way I look at my body. I totally am on board with the thought that our bodies are awesome and capable of amazing, incredible things. They can run marathons, climb mountains, swim oceans, birth babies, and more. (I've only done 1/4 things I mentioned. But I imagine my body could do the other ones if only my mind had any interest).

Sure I have those days. You know the ones. Where nothing seems to fit, every mirror obviously has it out for you, and you don't even feel comfortable in your own skin. But those days pass, and as I age they seem to be happening a lot less (or is it that I care less than when I was younger?)

So, let's take today, and tomorrow, and the entire week, month, year and celebrate our bodies for what they can do and for how awesome they are!

There's also no way I could write a post about celebrating our bodies (ourselves) without including this poem:


Phenomenal Woman


Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them 
They think I'm telling lies. 
I say, 
It's in the reach of my arms 
The span of my hips, 
The stride of my step, 
The curl of my lips. 
I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

I walk into a room 
Just as cool as you please, 
And to a man, 
The fellows stand or 
Fall down on their knees. 
Then they swarm around me, 
A hive of honey bees. 
I say, 
It's the fire in my eyes 
And the flash of my teeth, 
The swing of my waist, 
And the joy in my feet. 
I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered 
What they see in me. 
They try so much 
But they can't touch 
My inner mystery. 
When I try to show them, 
They say they still can't see. 
I say 
It's in the arch of my back, 
The sun of my smile, 
The ride of my breasts, 
The grace of my style. 
I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

Now you understand 
Just why my head's not bowed. 
I don't shout or jump about 
Or have to talk real loud. 
When you see me passing 
It ought to make you proud. 
I say, 
It's in the click of my heels, 
The bend of my hair, 
The palm of my hand, 
The need of my care, 
'Cause I'm a woman 
Phenomenally. 
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

from And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
copyright © 1978 

What's phenomenal about you? 

I'll start. My hair is all sorts of phenomenal...

...and I also love that I have the strength to bike my son to/from school/camp. 

Add yours down below!

6 comments:

Ashley said...

My feet are phenomenal for taking me on 16 miles of training walks this weekend. They'll be even more phenomenal when I complete my Komen 3 Day walk in October.

Caroline said...

Oooh, one of my most favorite poems EVER! I share this with my students :)

I love my eyes...and I love seeing "my" eyes in both of my children!

Nicole said...

GREAT poem!
my ears - they are little and are often hidden, but always alert and taking in the sounds around

Anonymous said...

This poem comforted me in high school! I can now say that after over ten years of feeling so shy, I now love my figure--34DD, I can be comfortable and even happy with my breasts!

Rachel said...

I wanted to post about this the other day but I was not in a happy place with the body. I've been out of the gym for about two weeks, which is NEVER good.

But I went back yesterday and today and I noticed that the hourglass shape is a very good one for making you look a bit less large than the scale (or pants size) says you are. So that was a nice revelation. I am still roughly 80 pounds over my "ideal" weight (medically speaking), but damn, I have a killer rack, a [relatively] small waist and a nice big round ass.

I am Rubenesque, somebody paint me.

Nikki said...

I am covered in freckles that are on full display by the end of summer. Seeing them reminds me to let go a little bit and have some fun.