Ordinary Abundance

I’m a closet hippie.  Minus the drugs, of course, and possibly with more soap.

(I didn’t really know this until recently, but now that I do, so much about myself and my life makes perfect sense to me.  That’s another day’s navel-gazing, though.)

A hippie is a person who opposes and rejects many of the conventional standards and customs of society.  The hippie philosophy is peace, love, freedom and cooperation.  And as I’m emerging from my closet of cultural indoctrination and parental over-control, these are the concepts I’m most strongly drawn to.

I rebel against a society that wants me to wage war against my body, wrinkles, blemishes, fat, flab, hair, scent, cellulite – against my very self.

I refuse to accept that I should hate myself for falling short of the unattainable airbrushed standards we are bombarded with on a daily basis.

I reject words and imagery of war and competition.  It’s not about victory, winning or conquering.  There are no enemies or opponents, winners or losers.  This is not a battle or a struggle.

I’m a lover, not a fighter. I’m a soul, not a soldier.

I will love and accept myself, no matter what anybody else thinks or says. 

I will love myself enough to change my habits and my circumstances.

I will celebrate the journey, instead of trying to “get this done”.   There’s no finish line.  My body will continue changing and improving long after I’ve reached a “normal” weight and I will continue to do the things that will keep it healthy and strong.  There’s no time limit – I don’t care if it takes 2 years or 5 years, as long as I feel better and can do more tomorrow than I did today.

I will remember that freedom is never free from responsibility.  In fact, the very act of freeing myself from the hypnotic spell of the food and weight loss industries places the responsibility for my health, wellbeing and vitality in my own hands – where it should be.

I will stumble, falter, flounder, lose momentum, freeze and fail often.  And I’ll find my feet again and keep going.  That’s how life works.

Are you still fighting, or are you ready to love yourself all the way to a vibrantly healthy life?