“Today You Are You”

Posted on by Joyful2bee

The title comes from one of my favorite authors, Dr. Seuss, and his book: Happy Birthday to You! I borrowed my title from these lines:”Today you are you! That is truer than true! There is no one alive who is you-er than you! ” This is more for us girls (whether transgender or whatever) just a warning. 

About our bodies

We women often don’t appreciate our bodies. We fret about being too tall or too short; too thin or too fat. We worry that we are not muscular enough; have legs that are too long or too short.

Since our bodies can do such amazing feats; such as growing and feeding an infant; we should be proud of our bodies, whether we think they are beautiful or not. Our bodies are the part of us that make things happen in our lives. They can wash the dishes; hug the husbands, children or grandchildren; and have a big part in helping us earn our living.

About our breasts

We often worry too much about our breasts. They are such practical parts of the female anatomy. But so few of us are truly satisfied with them.

In our early years we saw our ”tatas” as a sign of our impending womanhood. Depending on the attitude and self image of their owner, breasts may be “morale boosters” or “dead weights” to a young woman’s confidence. Part of accepting our bodies and therefore our bosoms depends on our mother’s attitude, part on the attitude of our peers and of course our own perception of our own “girls” and bodies.

When I was growing up many teenage girls were not encouraged to be proud of their bodies. I was born in 1951 during the dark ages; right before the liberating ’60s and the “go with the flow” ’70s, when so many attitudes about our bodies and sex changed.

I always kept my girls under wraps just because that was the way I was brought up. There was also the factor of my lack of confidence and poor self image. I have always been a little on the heavy side and figured, “Who, besides my husband, would be interested in a “fluffy woman?” (Just to make a point here, I was 5’7″ and weighed 145 pounds when I was 22. I would kill to weigh that now!!)

So after dating, marrying, and helping my husband through a Masters and then Doctoral Degree, my body was the home of our son for 9 months. Pretty amazing, I think!  

My girls were the topics of interest while I was pregnant because I wanted to breast feed our baby. (I am sorry if this embarrasses you, Son!!) So they served a very useful purpose in nurturing our son as nice portable, no muss, no fuss containers for his nourishment during his infancy.

Then for years they just kind of “hung around” waiting to see what was going to happen next. As is the case for many of us, as we age they got a little bigger and droopier.

As I got older I thought of them as a nice balance for my broadening hips. I figured, “Well at least I am balanced: “big on top and on the bottom, which makes my waist look a little smaller (Right?) “

On to the rest of our bodies

After retiring from nursing and the subsequent wearing of uniforms, or (for the most part) “asexual scrubs” for thirty seven years, I enjoy dressing in what I consider feminine, though reasonably priced, nice clothes.

I took an interest in “painting the barn,” so to speak, to look nicer as my confidence improved. This started when I began a small photography business several years ago and wanted to look more like a business woman. During that time I took on several fascinating jobs as a newspaper photojournalist, a volunteer at the local chamber of commerce, and a few smaller jobs.

Older with a different perspective

I have a growing acceptance of my body. I am finally accepting my body, “fluffy ” though it may be, and liking it. (I know I need to lose more weight but I did lose fifty pounds over the last five years (partially thanks to Covid limiting my eating out) and kept my weight the same within a few pounds for three or four years now. I stay active and am enjoying my life.

While observing other women my age and their attitudes towards their bodies, I am realizing there will always be other women who are smaller than I am and there will always be women who are bigger than I am. There will always be women who are smarter than I am and there will always be women who are not as smart as I am.

Stop judging yourself

The point, to all of my sisters in the world, is: stop judging yourself by other people. You are you. There is no one exactly like you. Learn to love yourself and improve where you can and accept what you can’t change. Learn to be happy! That is more important than who has the most beautiful face, the best voice, the most talent, the biggest house, the richest husband, or your own biggest company, or the youngest boobs!

There are people who have all of these things whether through surgery or by nature and many of them are not happy, loving people.

Just be the best you!

So stop looking at bony models and thinking you need to be thinner; stop looking at glam girls in makeup advertisements with enough make up for five women on their faces and wishing you could be as “beautiful?” as they are.

You are unique. There is only one you in the world. Rejoice in your uniqueness. Spruce up and take care of what you have and be thankful for the important things in life: love, family and friends, inner beauty, the world of nature, the love of a pet, the amazing world we live in now. Be thankful and take good care of what you have.

I am enjoying my life, my home, my family and friends, my cat, my health, my world. Why shouldn’t I enjoy my body as an expression of who I am: a comfortable, confident, (or getting there), fun loving, intelligent woman who is looking forward to the rest of her life.

28 thoughts on ““Today You Are You””

  3. What a positive outlook, Joy. My girls came late…at 18, along with the first period. As a late bloomer, they were embarrassing to me when they did arrive. I’m very protective and hide them, mostly. I had to laugh at your 145. When I was 30, I went on my first diet. I was at 130 and thought I was out of control (5 ft 6 in.) !! How foolish we were. ☺

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    1. Thanks for your reply! I started at 13 and was excited that I was now a woman! Lol, what did I know then! I am glad to know I wasn’t the only one who underestimated my body!! Hugs!!

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  5. Isn’t it nice to be at peace with your body? It takes a long time to get there but it is totally wonderful when it happens. I try to remind myself everyday that I will never look younger or prettier than I do right at this moment.

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  6. The funny thing to me is I believe we are more attractive when we believe we are attractive. It changes how we carry ourselves, but more important it is a part of that “extra something” that people see when they see us…like the little glint in the eye they add into movies with special effects! Anyway, I’ve sure that right now with your new attitude about yourself you are more beautiful that ever! Jo

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    1. Thanks Joanne Eddy!! You are so right about the way we carry ourselves. I noticed when I feel good, I carry myself differently. I think we affect those around us to by how we feel about ourselves. Thank you!!

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  7. I have to echo you and others saying that I thought I was ‘fat’ when I was 120 lbs (at 5’2″) back in my 20’s. I wasn’t the 110 lbs I was when I was 16 – LOL! Just like I thought I was ‘old’ when I was 35! Sheesh…. So now that I am really ‘old’ and a bit too ‘soft’ (150lbs), I consider that alternative and thank my lucky stars that I’m ‘old’ and ‘soft’!! Besides, my grandchildren like ‘soft’… The more to cuddle with! 🙂

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  8. Wonderful post. Such a great attitude you have Joy! When I was about 5 a friend asked me what I was going to do when I got breasts. I told her I would cut them off so they would not get in the way. I have NO idea why I thought this. Later when I was breastfeeding and had 40DD boobies that lolloped about as I rolled over in bed I remembered the idea of my youth and laughed out loud. After I stopped breastfeeding my breasts went back to normal and suffered no ill effects from the reduction in size.

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    1. LOL! What weird idea we kids can get! I thought if I swallowed watermelon seeds, I would get pregnant! I love your sense of humor, it can make life so much better.Thanks for sharing your story!

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  10. Pingback: “Today You Are You” – Aides

    1. Thank you, My Mindfulness Journey. I was chubby from about 9 to 13. But when I got my growth spurt, chub became less and height helped. I lost 50 pounds over the last 3 or 4 years. I hardly exercise except for walking. But I eat a salad twice a week; eat high protein meals including grain cereals; an egg on half a bagel with a thin slice of honey ham; and guacamole. I love the quac on grits and toast. I also love a medium sweet potato with butter slices, pecans, mini marshmallows, and a little brown sugar. I eat TV dinners that have good protein content with a side of fruit or baby carrot sticks.

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    1. Thanks. I am happy enough with my weight but do avoid high sugar things. One food I allow myself is the Dole Dark chocolate covered banana slices. 20% vitamin c and about 100 calories. That satisfies my craving sometimes and it’s pretty healthy. Good luck. Don’t hate your body. Nurture it.

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