Make sexy eyes at yourself in the mirror. Go on, it’s fun!
Take a tall, cool glass of your favorite beverage. Let it roll down your throat, and feel the coolness radiating through your limbs.
Put on a big, full skirt and twirl, twirl, twirl.
Lie down on a flat, clean floor. Relax your muscles one by one. Now relax the ones you’re still tensing. That floor will feel more comfortable than any bed in the world.
Get someone you love to scratch your back. Or if it won’t mess up your hair, have ‘em scratch your scalp.
Put on some scented lip balm. Soft lips + lovely fragrance = focused relaxation.
Think about whose nose you have, whose hair, whose hips, whose eyes. Isn’t it amazing that your ancestors are alive in you?
Go somewhere completely private where no one will see or hear you, turn on your favorite song in the world, and dance. Repeat. Repeat again until you’re good ‘n’ sweaty.
If your favorite song isn’t dance-able, allow me to recommend, “Jump Around.” You don’t know how to dance, you say? No problem. Just jump.
Hug a child who loves you. Do you think that child cares about your pant size or your gray hairs?
Toss your hair around like Rita Hayworth.
Play with a silky scarf. Wrap it around your wrist, your neck, your head until it finds a natural resting place.
Hum your favorite lullaby.
Look up your favorite comedian on YouTube. Laugh your ass off. (Here’s mine, if you’re drawing a blank.)
List the top five things you love best about your body. Write them down. Keep the list in your wallet like a talisman.
Image courtesy kate.gardiner.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Stop what you're doing right now, close your eyes, and just feel. Feel the air around you. Is it cool, warm, hot, freezing? Is it dry or muggy? Enjoy the sensation on your skin. This always brings me back to the moment and helps me savor my life as it is, right now.
this is a great post for me today, since last night i had a minor meltdown over the weight i am carrying around. im getting married in under 3 months, and all the fiance is talking about is us losing weight. which of course, my brain heard as "youre fat and i dont want to marry a fat girl." so of course, we are sitting in the middle of a restaurant with me fighting back tears. (and thinking to myself, "sal would never approve!")
*sigh*
i thought i had gotten over that thinking by now!
so anywho, i think i will be reading back through some of your old entries to remind me that yes, even with some extra weight, i am STILL beautiful just the way i am.
thanks sal.
@EvaNadine It bums me out that your fiancé is focusing so much on the weight. You should be beautiful to him as you are, and from your profile photo, you're gorgeous!
Sal, I wanted to share the post I made on my blog with you about this. I think this is the first successful "love my body" post I've ever made.
http://bravocharliesierra.blogspot.com/2010/07/what-i-like.html
brianna:
thankfully, dear fiance isnt nearly the neanderthal it sounded like from my other comment. he is wonderful and 99.9% of the time DOES make me feel more-than-perfect. he is bummed with his own weight gain, so he is trying to motivate both of us to get healthier and be fit. unfortunately, his "pep talk" just came at a moment when i was feeling not-so-happy with myself. (we were able to have a constructive conversation about how to approach such pep talks in the future.)
thankyou for your comment.
Oh! I just knew that when I clicked the link to your favorite comedian it would be Eddie Izzard! I went to his show a couple months ago when he came through my town. Soooooo good. Really, funny beyond words, and explanation.
Thanks for this post and your blog in general. I don't post often but I read everyday.
wonderful timing! i just applied to be a Life Drawing model this morning, and I feel like the application alone has launched me further past body acceptance and into body luuuuuurve. an artist friend said that most models are actors and models, so i hope the students are thrown for a little loop to see my lumps and rolls and c-section scar and all. now THAT'S drawing practice, loves!
Hi, I normally just lurk here, but I had to comment to say that this post was exactly what I needed today, and I'll be sharing it with all my lady friends. Thank you!
What a wonderful post! You put so much time and love into your writing – it's why I read your blog everyday
Oh, I think children are TOTALLY judging me head-to-toe. I was kidding but now I think of it, it's kind of true. Someone's ill-behaved brat once told me I was wearing too much lipstick.
Cosmo did a "how to feel sexy" article a while ago and 99% of it were things that were stupid (Wear lingerie under your clothes to the grocery store!) or impractical. In contrast, this list is fantastic!
Great words of wisdom. I also enjoy reading everyone else's tips listed here, too. Love yourself, nurture yourself, etc. Put on your favorite comedy or movie and enjoy!
Love it!
I love making sexy eyes at myself in the mirror! Sometimes I wink and blow myself kisses, which makes me laugh because I'm such a goof, and then I make sparkly eyes at myself and admire those laugh lines I'm working on.
Oh, I needed this today! I am going to Ibiza tomorrow … a dream trip, mind you, but with the dreaded bathing suits and generally skimpy attire that goes along with Mediterranean island vacations. Hate to complain but …
I will absolutely put some of these things into practice!
Thanks (from a long-time lurker!)
I love this post – I run coaching workshops and this week we've been looking at self image and body image. I posted this link on our Facebook page (it's here: http://www.facebook.com/LifeClubs) – what perfect timing! Thanks so much for giving me something interesting and thought-provoking to share.
Love this! Definitely going to give these a try. Thank you!