A little update on what I have been involved in recently with Body Gossip. Many of you replied to my request for volunteers to be interviewed about their bodies. A huge thanks to those who I managed to get to and an apology to the volunteers that I couldn't get to do. But don't despair, Body Gossip are still wanting to hear your body story, details of how to do this can be found at this link.
A lot of your body thoughts made me smile and laugh, but there was a common ground as most of you were not happy with parts of your body because of how they look....and this makes me sad :(
The reasons for you feeling this way were many, but mostly down to life experiences, growing up or from external and media influences.
Positive self image is so important....I have had many years of feeling ugly, too fat, too thin and generally picking myself apart. I know how it feels.
Throughout my recovery from Anorexia I had many conflicting opinions in my head about weight issues.
I will admit in the past to possibly being fat phobic and buying into the media tales of overweight people being a drain on the NHS or being lazy. I wasn't born thinking this, the same as people are not born racist or homophobic...these are attitudes you learn and they are attitudes that can change...you can also help make that change.
This is why organisations like Body Gossip are so needed. They promote the message that every body is beautiful, no matter what size, what age, what race, what gender, and no matter what anyone else tries to tell you.
If you want to dye your hair pink do it! (school holidays only!!!) It you want piercings, do it! (remember health and safety ;) If you want to lose weight, do it! If you want to wear socks and sandals, do it!!
All joking aside, whatever you choose for your body do it for YOU, because YOU want to. Not because the magazines or TV tell you that you need to look a certain way, dress a certain way or be a certain size.
This is YOUR life, this is YOUR choice, this is YOUR body!! You are an individual. BeYOUtiful.
I first came across Body Gossip when I was in recovery, and the first thing I saw was this video. From there I came across their website, sent my body stories in to their Body Gossip Book and that's where my involvement started.
If you haven't checked out the You Tube channel I would highly recommend it. As well as the videos, Body Gossip run a Gossip School which are self-esteem classes organised in schools across the country.......
but back to the original story, the interviews.
Now the interviews have been collected from lots of people across the country, they will be turned into a stage show. Imagine that....... your body thoughts could be on a stage in London (South bank centre currently, not Drury Lane) and acted out by Celebrities. Cue the, "who would play you in the story of your life?" question. Blooming amazing........
If all goes well and the projected can get the funding, the show could tour and your voices could be heard across the UK....doubly amazing.
In a way, I could now say I have seen it done it and got the T-Shirt...... how could I forget the T Shirts
Picture of me wearing my BG BeYOUtiful TShirt after the flash mob
Body Gossip Ruth & Curvy Kate lingerie models showing off their T-Shirts. Wearing of trousers is optional
I love this design
My Favourite......
And for the little ones....
Body Gossip Shirts are available from Supadupa.com. They are a practical, stylish and fun way of supporting a positive body image campaign. Lets see if we can make a positive change together. xxx
