-
Learning to love our bodies… not always an easy task
In a column shared this week titled The Long Journey of Learning to Love My Own Body, author Tré LaRosa shared about his personal experiences with body acceptance and self love. This column struck me for two reasons: 1) Tré has a way with words that I deeply admire, and 2) I rarely, rarely hear about body image issues from the male perspective.
Although I don’t think it’s talked about frequently enough, I’ve had several conversations about body image with female friends in the CF community. Relationships with our bodies can be complex and difficult to navigate, perhaps especially when that body is a chronically ill one. But always missing from the conversations I’ve been part of is the voice of men experiencing these struggles (did they experience these things? I truly didn’t know).
If you haven’t read this column, I strongly encourage you to do so. Here are some words I will take with me moving forward:
“On a microcosmic level, our bodies are the sole vessel — our only home — that houses the mind and, if you personally choose, the soul for the entirety of our existence. That any life exists at all is a miracle; that we are capable of perceiving ourselves while also being capable of complex emotions is wondrous a million times over.
If, during our lives, we choose — either by free will or due to trauma associated with past events — to hate our bodies, we will never become our fullest, best selves. It is impossible for a mind to fully occupy a home while simultaneously resenting it. The home provides protection and sanctuary.”
Have you struggled with your body image? Does CF and the toll it takes on your body (thinness, scars, medical devices, malnourishment, etc.) make it harder for you to love your body? What do you LOVE about your body?
Log in to reply.