text: And I, too, believe in the importance of multiple goals for women: https://alreadypretty.com/2011/10/you-can-do-it.html Again, though, I think it is far more difficult to achieve most goals if you come at them from a place of self-loathing, which includes body loathing.
  Thank you for the clarification, Sal! Especially the second paragraph of your comment above – I totally agree (that self love and body love are often glossed over as selfish, while they are really quite integral to our well being).
  What a wonderful post Sally! What you are describing is not one cause among many, though, but an orientation that connects to just about every justice issue. Because the lens that we use to regard, disregard and judge ourselves is a social lens, which we also use to judge others. Until I began reading your blog, I didn’t give my views on body image a lot of critical thought. But lately I’ve been thinking a lot about those views, and how I was raised to instinctively reject some body types and accept others — in myself and others. To embrace and uphold people of all shapes and sizes while promoting their health and well-being and intrinsic beauty is an act of love that goes far beyond self regard. Because humanity is a body — and its image is manifold. The self love that you describe is also a love of humanity. And that is at the heart of social justice.
  Brava! Thank you, so much, Sally, for sharing your beautiful thoughts with us… this blog is a daily reminder to me that I am worthwhile, beautiful and strong!
  I’ve just spent the afternoon at our local public beach. It is the first day that school is out here and I went to keep an eye on my three grandsons, who vary in age from 6-13. It was fascinating to watch the collection of bodies there today. Some were pale and thin and seriously burning. Others deliberately covered themselves with the finest mud. Some had improvised suits. Some had interesting tattoos. One was a dog who ran joyfully and then rolled around in the sand to dry off. But, I was most struck by a woman in a wheelchair. Her daughter rolled her down to the beach, where she then stood on crutches, and with her one leg she gradually eased down into the water. Her daughter carried her crutches back…People of all ages and body types enjoyed the water and the sunshine. And nary a one seemed shy of their body with this joy to experience.
  i totally agree, however, to do this would mean (for me) to live under a rock these days. I see only thin,lovely people in every form of media there is. I wish i could find the key to ignore all the things around me telling me i look ‘wrong’…..