This post is a part of a series titled, "Questions about Body Image and Comparison." Here's today's question: Dear Heather: My best friend has a great figure. But she seems to do nothing to work at it. She eats what she wants and barely exercises, yet still looks...
purpose
Do You Know How You Were Designed?
I sit in the waiting area, listening to my nine-year-old son's computer class. I'm mentally transported to my college freshman year Intro to Math course, where Dr. Widmar spoke to us, with his back always to the blackboard, in some special language that only computer...
Esther: Beauty for a Purpose
As far as Bible stories go, Esther has always been one of my favorites. A young girl is plucked from the masses as the next queen. She gets a year of spa treatments and then a chance to win a king's affection. How glamorous and exciting! And, how totally random that...
What’s Better Than Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Several of my friends wriggle with fret over the outcome of last week's election. "The glass ceiling stays intact. What will we tell our daughters?" I'm not concerned. What women need more than a shattered glass ceiling is a rock solid floor. Allow me to explain. As I...
Your View of Your Body Could Change the World
"If tomorrow, women woke up and decided they really liked their bodies, just think how many industries would go out of business." Gail Dines, Ph.D. I've watched this and similar quotes breeze through my social media feeds before. Today I stopped to let that sink...
Scarcity Mentality and Body Image: Is There a Connection?
Do you have a Scarcity Mentality? Could it be affecting your body image? Interesting thoughts here on scarcity mentality and body image. My first year of college I internally made the decision not to pursue a career in broadcast journalism. Why? Because too many...
You Have Great Purpose
I looked out our second story bathroom window onto the blooming tree in our neighbor's yard. I noticed a massive number of bees swarming around it's blooms. There were so many of them I'm sure had I opened the window I would have heard the buzzing. I don't necessarily...
Just a Little More Beauty, Lord: A Poem
"Just a Little More Beauty, Lord," is an original poem! My first, in fact. It may not be Emily Dickinson but I hope these words will still touch you and (maybe) make you smile as you reflect on the truth about our desires and our body image struggles . . . Just a...
How to Try on a Swimsuit (and Not Hate Your Body)
She unlocks the dressing room door and then steps out of the way for me to enter. I smile, mumble a thank you, and lock it behind me. Turning around, I assess my finds. Will any of these look as good on me as they do on the hanger? I doubt it. Alas, you can't go to...
Can Focusing on How We Are Alike Cure Comparison?
"Mom, I"m just like Iron Man." My four-year-old paces beside my desk as I work. He explains to me that he and Iron Man have a lot of similarities. They are both boys, for starters. They both like to wear red. They both like Legos. (Of course Iron Man plays Legos....