3/28/17

Hair

So I stopped shaving about a month ago. EVERYWHERE. I still pluck my eyebrows and my silly little mustache whiskers but the rest of my hair is enjoying its freedom! I stopped because it's winter, because I have issues with self-harm and razors are a big trigger, and also because I am tired of doing things because it's what women should do.

 I want to just do whatever I want. And so far the hair grow process has gone ok. At first I fucking hated it, I hate seeing my legs hairy even though they are super soft, and I also hate these damn hairy armpits too. Whenever I see it I am grossed out, so yes, I feel gross. But every time I feel gross I remind myself that I am feeling gross because society has taught me that having body hair in certain places is gross for women. That honestly is fucked up. So then for a minute or two I feel empowered. And I'm definitely getting used to it. Also, armpit hair helps release pheromones so if you find me to be more sexy, well you can thank the hairs.

The thing is learning to love your body is a huge struggle. Especially with the media constantly telling you there is something wrong with you that can be fixed with their product, and tons of things on social media judging and ripping people apart based on their appearance. I think I suck at self love and then I realize this is just the road I'm on. I'm still trying real hard, I have a lot of beliefs about myself as a whole that I need to work through, and body image is a big facet of that. So I don't suck at self love. I mean I have armpit hair, that has to mean I'm doing something, right?!

I think a lot of times in the self love community we don't talk about how hard it is to get to a place of self love. I have been on this journey for 2 years now and I still rarely feel love for myself. But I'm working on it, I'm trying things, so that's something. Ahhh now I'm thinking I'm failing at self love again! See it's a moment to moment process.

I'm not at all saying that you can't shave if you are practicing self love. I just want you to do whatever you want. As long as it isn't hurtful, or illegal fucking go for it!

more soon...

C

3/15/17

The Ponds



The Ponds
Mary Oliver

Every year
the lilies
are so perfect
I can hardly believe

their lapped light crowding
the black,
mid-summer ponds.
Nobody could count all of them--

the muskrats swimming
among the pads and the grasses
can reach out
their muscular arms and touch

only so many, they are that
rife and wild.
But what in this world
is perfect?

I bend closer and see
how this one is clearly lopsided--
and that one wears an orange blight--
and this one is a glossy cheek

half nibbled away--
and that one is a slumped purse
full of its own
unstoppable decay.

Still, what I want in my life
is to be willing
to be dazzled--
to cast aside the weight of facts

and maybe even 
to float a little
above this difficult world.
I want to believe I am looking

into the white fire of a great mystery.
I want to believe that the imperfections are nothing--
that the light is everything--that it is more than the sum
of each flawed blossom rising and fading. And I do.