As some of you are aware, our Body’s Blast board at BL is currently centered around self love. We are emphasizing the importance of loving yourself by encouraging students to write what they love about themselves on a heart and placing it on the board for all to see. So my heart says, “my thighs!!” I know this may seem a bit odd to some and believe me, it hasn’t always been the case. In fact, I have seriously struggled with my genetically athletic thighs for a good part of my life. As a gymnast I remember hearing some guy walk by and say, “look at those thighs.” (Of course, I assumed this was a negative comment.) And even as an adult standing in the front of the room Zumba-ing next to Chris, intellectually knowing that our body types are just different, but nonetheless, berating myself with negative self chatter about the difference in the size of our legs!!
My mind set began to change one day when Chris and I were laying out on her back deck getting BL work done while soaking up some sun. Her husband came home from work early, walked out onto the deck and dramatically shouted, “look at those thighs!!” This time I was quick to realize Chris had shared my dislike for my thighs with him, and he was merely reacting to emphasize what he thought was the preposterousness of my negative body image.
THEN I BROKE MY LEG POLKA DANCING!! (Talk about preposterous!!) Not only did I break my leg, but I had to have a Titanium rod pounded down the middle of my lower leg as well as several screws to help secure it. I couldn’t drive for 2 months, couldn’t put any weight on it for 6 months, couldn’t dance for almost a year, and wasn’t completely out of pain for 2 years. My right leg atrophied to the point that even my pants and boots were looser. Just what I had wished for, right??
This extreme polka dancing incident took place in 2012 and I can honestly say that I have “loved my thighs” ever since. I love how strong they are, I love that they move me from one place to the next, I love the huge variety of fun activities they allow me to do, and I even love how they look. I no longer compare myself to anyone else in the mirror but value and appreciate my thighs just as they are.
I share this with you in the hopes that you will learn this lesson sooner than I did - that you won’t wait for a broken leg to remind you to appreciate what you already have and that you will pause today to accept that body part that you struggle with and love yourself just as you are.
Don’t forget to put your heart on the BL Blast Board and on Instagram!! #blselflove #ilovemythighs
