This is #3 in the LoveEVERYbody workshop. I’m a little late but still want to contribute as I love writing and reading these posts.
Number 3 is all about Shoulders, Arms & Hands. This is a funny one for me. They are just arms right? So why do they cause me so much hassle!?
Let’s start with my shoulders, if I was giving you running commentary while looking in the mirror I would say short neck, really round shoulders and stretch marks. YES! Stretch marks on my flipping shoulders. It’s because I put on a lot of weight in a short space of time (eating to fill a void is never a good thing) and I just don’t think my body could handle the quick blow out. So yes, small white lines overlap my shoulders which GENERALLY I choose to ignore. The only good thing about my shoulders at a push is that my hair drapes pretty nicely over them now it’s long and straight. It makes me want to do the whole ‘I’m worth it’ advert with the hair flicking!
Then… moving on to my arms. One of the parts of my body I loathe the most. I hate them with a passion and I would pay to swap them. The FIRST time I have had my arms out in the past 5 years in PUBLIC was after starting this blog. I almost had palpitations. I literally almost couldn’t do it. I see them as these massive blubber wings and I just can’t get over how ugly they are. I know this is about loving your body but these are going to be the challenge of my self-acceptance journey. Work in progress.
The issue I have is that you can’t hide them without looking odd. For example, boiling hot summers day. I’m in a cardigan. ‘Aren’t you hot?’ I get asked… ‘No… I’m fine’ I say, trying not to pass out from heat exhaustion! My arms are full of chub. I don’t have elbows I have mountains and then a dip where the elbow should be. I don’t have wrists, I have mounds and I don’t have hands with knuckles. I have potatoes. With my belly, for example, it never looks odd if I hide that! My thighs… it never looks out of place if they are covered! But arms…. Meh!
I’m laughing as I write this because it sounds ridiculous but its how I feel. In past years I have been through some silly moments with my arms. But since starting my blog my self-acceptance is improving. My concern is that I am going to encounter my first Summer with a slightly different mind-set. A much more positive one about myself mentally and physically. It will be a new battle once summer begins. Plus, I give AWESOME hugs.
In terms of what I like about my arms, this is really tough! I have lots of little moles and I think they add character and when I am on holiday I love getting my arms nice and tanned! It’s odd because on holiday, although I still struggle to get my arms out… I CAN! Bizarre but that’s something I need to work on. I think it’s because when I do go on holiday I’m not in close proximity to anyone and I can hide away in the openness… an odd thing.
My hands are ok. Like I said, no knuckles and slightly bent fingers but I have quite healthy nails and of course fingers means you can touch, type, feel…. I love them without even knowing it!
So #3 LoveEVERYbody is one I need to work on. I’m ok at the moment because I am wearing shirts and dresses. But come summer time it will be a whole new ball game. BUT… you know what?? BRING IT ON!
I purposely didn’t put any pictures of my arms out. I have some pics up elsewhere on the blog, but with this task, because I’m working on the self love of my arms I just wanted to write. I believe in the theory of self fulfilling prophecies so if I keep conditioning my self I will get there.
Please check out the other lovely people who are sharing their thoughts on their Shoulders, Arms & Hands.
