Thanks for that Rod, but these lyrics could just as easily read:
If you love your body, and you think it’s sexy,
come on let the whole world know
It’s a very generalised explanation of the I heart my body campaign being run again by We Heart Life, and yes, it doesn’t do it justice because it’s not all about flaunting uber sexy bodies that we’re uber confident about.
I wasn’t going to go near this campaign, because I feel neither sexy nor confident, and felt really hard pressed to find anything I love about my body. I really didn’t think I could find a photo of my body that I LOVE and then share three things I love about it.
I guess I could play it safe and say I love my eyes because they’re the same colour blue as my Dad’s. Or that I’m lucky to have straight teeth, or nice nails. That’s three right? But it doesn’t scratch the surface.
Then I remembered I posted on Instagram this photo of myself at the races last weekend.
My desperately warbled version of, “Come on sugar let me know” perhaps?
Well, people did let me know. Lots of them (well, 40 is lots to me!).
But that’s not really a reason to love my body.
::
I can’t even trot out the line that I love my body for producing two beautiful children (totally valid for others, just not for me).
It protested being pregnant, twice, with violent extended morning sickness.
My pelvis crumpled under the weight of my tiny babies, twice, ending in a brace and crutches.
Eventually it evicted my tiny babies too early, twice, and gave them and me a challenging start in life as mother and child.
My body didn’t cope well with the pace and stress of my life and eventually it crashed and burned.
It still reminds me every day that the next crash is just a stray step away.
I guess you could say my body has let me down, and until recently, I would have agreed.
But not any more.
The real reason I love my body is because it is smarter than me.
It would tell me when it was in trouble – and I didn’t listen.
It would scream at me to rest – but I charged on through my pregnancies and life with deaf ears.
It brought me to a screaming halt – and I started to learn to listen.
The reason I love my body in this particular photo is that it told me, “Today is going to be a really big day – pace yourself”
And I listened.
I’ve learned a pretty big lesson over the last year about how important is it to listen to your body. Really hearing what it’s telling you, rather than blaming it for unimaginable pain, scowling at the signs of sacrifice, and being embarrassed by it’s “failures”.
And now I’m starting to respect it more.
The next step for me is to start really looking after my body – my mantra, “Take Care”.
No more excuses.
It’s the only body I’ve got - I have no choice but to love it.
What’s your body telling you?
Laney x
::
Please go and check out the other posts written by other women who are brave enough to share why they love their bodies.
Disclosure: In writing this, I become eligible to win a portrait photography session with the lovely Ulyana. But it’s not the reason I wrote it. I wrote it because in the past few weeks I’ve realised some pretty big things about my health, how I can help myself, and how I can help others too. Stay tuned ;)
Laney,
My goodness, you’re BEAUTIFUL! I’ve thought that EVERY, single time we meet!
I know what point you reached, I really do.
I’m so glad you’re finally listening!
Keep listening :)
x
When I saw these photos on Instagram I loved them. You looked beautiful, not just on the outside, but your inner beauty was shining.
Listening to our bodies is important. Like you, I didn’t for a very long time. And now, because it has started screaming at me, I am.
You are a beautiful person Laney, inside and out
Vicky’s last post..Where to now Charlie Brown?
Superb post, it is so important to listen to that wise old body of ours.. I ignore mine often but I too with age am getting wiser and trying to listen.
Thanks for the reminder Laney.. that picture is va va voom.. hello sexy lady :)
Tessa’s last post..I heart my body 2012…
Thanks Laney! Its so important to listen to our bodies and give them what they need. You’re a picture of health and happiness in that photo. Hope you had a fabulous day at the races.
Mumabulous’s last post..The Joys of Eavesdropping
Thanks for linking up xx
An amazing and honest post. Thank you for sharing xx
Carly ~ We Heart Life Creator’s last post..I Heart My Body 2012
Such an important message. I need to listen more.
You are GORGEOUS Laney. xx
Amelia {Weddings, Babies… Everything}’s last post..I Heart My Body 2012
this is a really lovely post, firstly because you admit you’ve not always been totally in love with your body, secondly because now you’re ok and can relate, I’m trying to find that ground.
Mandy’s last post..Tips for Online Dating as a Single Parent
What a wonderful post Laney. Learning to listen to our body’s is a great lesson. I’m still working on that one myself! x
Catherine Rodie Blagg’s last post..I heart my body
Although you are right about only having one body, you DO have a choice about whether or not you love it. And my goodness, Laney, you made the right choice! You are so very beautiful. Your smile is enchanting. Oh, and just so you know… that song is running on repeat in my head now… thank you! X
Bec | Bird with a chip’s last post..I Heart My Body
Gorgeous photo’s, you have an amazing smile. I too love that our bodies talk to us, and I’m really mindful to listen. Beautiful, inspiring post. x
Jodi Gibson aka Lipgloss Mumma’s last post..I heart my body 2012
Oh, laney! What a great post, and reminder – our bodies indeed are smarter than us xx
Lyndal’s last post..the one where i think about how much i heart my body
Brilliant brilliant post Laney. I’m so guilty of not listening to my body and it is a hard lesson to learn over and over.
I’m going to listen harder. Starting today. xox
katesaysstuff’s last post..Thankful Thursday: I {heart} my body!
Gorgeous photos Laney!! I’m working on the take care of my body part. For me it’s a fine balance between giving it what it needs to be healthy and spoiling it with ice cream and chocolate every now and then xoxoxox
Zoey @ Good Googs’s last post..I Heart My Body
Gorgeous photos and a great post. Rachel x
Rachel from Redcliffe Style’s last post..It must be true, it’s in writing…
Well I think you look just gorgeous in these pictures! I know I need to listen to my body more often too, maybe if I had I wouldn’t have ended up with pneumonia last week. All too often I take it for granted only to complain when I have pushed it too far.
Great post x
Erin @ Eat Play Bond’s last post..I Can’t Believe I Heart My Pregnant Body (We Heart It – I Heart My Body 2012)
I remember seeing these pictures posted on Instagram and thinking phwoar she is beautiful, confident, owns her beauty! I just loved seeing them! Your mantra is one I need to listen to more. Its so easy to not care and just fall in a heap.
Loved this post.. always inspires xxx
Java Jane’s last post..I Heart My Body
Your smile is so infectious, Laney. I love that candid photo of you!
I do listen to my body. Like you, I learned the hard way, when it brought me to a screeching halt xx
Jayne’s last post..I {heart} my body and am a bit of a tool.
Laney, you look positively radiant in those pictures and that colours suits you so much! I like your mantra, I think it would suit a lot of people x
Glowless’s last post..I Heart My Body 2012
If we would all listen to our bodies more I think we’d all be happier, healthier people! I love that photo of you at the races – gorgeous figure, killer cleavage, and a wicked smile! Beautiful!
Tam’s last post..I love my body
They know stuff, our bodies, stuff the noise of life sometimes drowns out for us. This is a great reason to love your body. To trust it whole heartedly. I know what it is to be let down by my body and to have let it down. This post spoke to me. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa {Suger}’s last post..My Guts on the Page {I
Laney, you are beautiful. Both inside and out x
Good Golly Miss Holly!’s last post..I heart my body. For what it does for me, not how it looks.
Love your honesty and am sad you have gone through so much. But WOW, learning to listen to your body, that is awesome!
I think that taking care of ourselves is an amazing gift – you look great Laney!
Liz@LastChanceTraining’s last post..Loving thoughts about my body
My body is learning to listen to Laney!!!! It’s something i need to do too. Love your photos, you look so happy too!
Jac at Common Chaos Chronicle’s last post..I Am Learning To {Heart} My Body… One Day At A Time!
You look fabulous. Go you. xx
Vicki’s last post..how to store your LINGERIE
You look gorgeous, happy and healthy and how amazing to know that the brain inside that body is respecting what the body needs and wants. It’s no easy thing to do.
Kylie @ Octavia and Vicky’s last post..I Heart My Body
That’s what I need to learn to do too. Learn to pace myself. I tend to be an all or nothing type of gal. When I put my back out for 3 months after I had my baby, I learnt that lesson the hard way.
Fab races outfit Laney.
Alex’s last post..I Heart My Body Day – My Body’s In The Shop
You look stunning in those photos. I’ve been way too harsh on my body now and for the many years before. But especially lately. Going to go eat some ice cream because it deserves a bit of sugary goodness :)
Lifeasmummymax’s last post..I heart my body
Oh Laney, this could perhaps be one of my favourite I Heart posts! You DO only have one body and I completely agree, you have to love it! If you don’t listen to it, if you don’t love it, then soon it will be all over and what on earth is the point in that? Well said x
Kelly HTandT’s last post..I Heart My Body 2012
Laney you are gorgeous and I mean drop dead gorgeous by the way so it is so heartening to hear that even you suffer from insecurities. You are so right though about taking take of our bodies and listening to them. I got so used to blocking it out as I didnt like what it had to say, but I am so inspired beyond words to change that. Thank you xx
Sonia Life Love Hiccups’s last post..The Story and The Words I NEVER Thought I Would Say – I Heart My Body!
I think that’s what loving your body really means – listening, respecting, caring.
Tat’s last post..Do you speak your body’s love language?
You are beautiful!
Your smile is so gorgeous…probably because of those straight, white teeth!
And your message is spot on.
The one time my body failed me is when I didn’t listen to it.
It warned me…repeatedly…but I pushed forward.
I now realise that when my body signals me to slow down, I had better stop.
Take care.
I love those photos, Laney. You are gorgeous, inside and out x
Tina ~ Tina Gray {dot} Me’s last post..Do I really {heart} my body?
Awesome post, with a great message that really spoke to me about your challenges with pregnancy. I know a bit about that with my own journeys. Take Care……love it.
Trudie@My Vintage Vow’s last post..I heart my body……
3 cheers to your incredibly smart body and also to the gorgeousness that is your body. I think we as women need to listen to our bodies more least I know I do xx
Rach’s last post..It’s Not Perfect but it’s Mine
I missed that instagram pic but I would’ve absolutely liked it, so make that 41 :)
Carli’s last post..I kinda-heart my body
You are beautiful! Your body is wonderful!
You are seriously the most productive person I know Laney. That has got to come at a cost. So pleased that you are learning to pace yourself and taking care. You are a stunner. xx
Lee’s last post..I farking love my body
I am all too familiar with ignoring what my body is telling me until it’s too late. It’s hard lesson to come to terms with and doesn’t seem to always be an easy one to remember, but thank you for your beautiful post and for the timely reminder!
Amanda’s last post..I Heart My Body…
LOVE it!! We all need to listen to our bodies and I’m so glad you did… you can see the happiness right there in that pic.
I love that dress on you too :)
Sig’s last post..I heart my body.
Hi crashtestmummy. Your blog is so inspiring! Just wanted to say a liked it.
Thank you so much :)