A Letter To Your Body: Body Love With LA’s #1 Boudoir Photographer
Dear Body,
We’ve had our ups and downs over the years, haven’t we? It’s amazing how one moment, I can look in the mirror and accept everything you are, and other times, I’m just disappointed by all that you aren’t. Society’s view of what a woman should be is often very different from the woman I am, and sometimes, I find myself struggling. All too often, I turn up my nose at what I see in the mirror, ignore the things I know I need and pressure myself to conform to impossible standards. In the process, I fail to see what is right in front of me, in me, and around me: all the things I should appreciate about you.
Today, I want to say thank you.
Thank you, For carrying me through this life, for all the joys you have allowed me, and for all the incredible moments you have allowed me to be part of.
For the days spent outside under the sun, nights spent out under the stars, and the ability to enjoy both.
For being my canvas as I explored with colors and fashion and styles.
For the silly phases when I was young, and the efforts I have taken as I grew older.
We’ve had some amazing looks, haven’t we? They’re uniquely ours, fit just for you, and they wouldn’t have been quite the same for anyone else.
Thank you: For the legs that have held me up through some of life’s most incredible moments.
For carrying me as I have explored countless hobbies and played countless games and experimented with everything the world has to offer.
For all the miles we have gone together - the roads we have traveled, the places we have gone, the things we have experienced.
For the joy of exploration across this big world and all the fun adventures, we’ve been able to go on.
Thank you: For the children you allowed women to carry that I have had the honor of scooping up, holding close to my chest, and carrying.
For the joy of bending over with them as they took those shaky early steps, the honor of holding their hands as they got a little older, and the bittersweet moment of letting go when they were ready to walk by themselves.
Thank you: For the beautiful moments with my partner- and all the joy and pleasure we have been able to share.
For fingers laced together, lips pressed against one another, and arms wrapped around one another through the good times and the bad.
For allowing me that joy and connection, and for allowing me to bring that joy and connection to the one I love.
Thank you: For all the goals I have reached, and all the ones I have gone after and yet not yet been able to attain.
For the ability to achieve incredible dreams and accomplish incredible things.
For the evidence of the battles I have fought: the scars laid out on my body, and the wonderful healing that took place beneath each one.
For the strength to come through those battles and celebrate on the other side.
Thank you: For eyes that have seen sunrises and sunsets, mountains and oceans, butterflies and flowers.
For ears that have heard birdsong, and a child’s laughter, and the sound of waves crashing on the shore.
For arms that have embraced my loved ones, and shoulders that have carried heavy burdens.
Thank you: For the memories and the moments.
For the ability to enjoy delicious foods—some healthy, some not—and the ability to dance and sing and celebrate.
For the warmth of the sun on my skin.
For every bit of softness that my loved ones have snuggled into.
For the laugh lines that celebrate the good moments, and the lines of sorrow that commemorate the bad.
Thank you for everything you have done for me.
All too many times, I have failed to celebrate you as you deserve. I have ignored your needs and replaced them with fad diets, strict exercise that I didn’t enjoy, and too little rest. I have demanded much, accepted little, and failed to appreciate you as you deserve.
Today, however, I just say thank you. Thank you for being beautiful just as you are. For allowing me to celebrate, and laugh, and enjoy the world around me. For continuing to be there for me, even when I don’t appreciate you as I should.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
-Me