I have been a little too inspired by CED 2010. My mind has been going. And going. And going. Which can either be good or bad. You see if you know me, you know that I have the tendancy to get into my head. I've talked about it before...my little problem with analysis paralysis. That's the bad part of it. But the good part is that it has me feeling so inspired! I'm flexing my creative muscles. I work them out on a regular basis, but you know when you change up your routine...you feel it in places you haven't in a while? And it feels gooood. *Just thought I'd share what's going on in the noggin, now on to the topic at hand...
Body is the theme for January . I have been thinking of it in every sense of the word. And one of the paths that I travelled...whilst thinking...was the tree. So I had a little adventure the other day. I went around checking out trees bodies, taking in all of their uniqueness, loving them for being them - just the way they are. Each and every tree was different and beautiful...some were short, some were tall, some were thin, some were not so thin, some with smooth bark, some with not so smooth bark, some were barren, some were full of leaves, some had crooked trunks, some had perfect posture, some were a little brittle, and some were oozing succulence. My adventure with the trees made me think about women and the way we perceive beauty.
We as women are often either too hard on ourselves, too hard on others, or some combination of the two. Every one of us is different...but each of us are beautiful. Made perfect right from the very beginning - as are the trees I photographed. One of the things that I feel so passionate about is empowering women and girls. We should grow up understanding that we are perfect. We all deserve that. 
Notice the beauty in the women around you today. In every shape and size. With all of the different characteristics that each holds. See the beauty in those differences. Including those you see in the mirror. You are beautiful.
Whether you are in a great place. A blue place. A lost place. An on top of the world place. No matter where you are... or how you are. Know that we continue to have the beauty. It doesn't go away. We may forget about it. We may believe something that someone else has said about us. We may believe something that we say to ourselves when we look in the mirror. But the truth is, our beauty is inherent. In our cells, and in our souls. The trees know it - they don't have to deal with all of that BS.
I just adore this post. Partly because I love trees and can relate to your way of seeing them, but also because of your views on beauty and women, which I want to embrace more and more of. xox
ReplyDeleteLeah I'm so happy you popped in to say hi. Your comments are greatly appreciated. I've had a bit of an obsession lately with trees, so I managed to work them into the Body topic. You have me so inspired to create - now I just have to let go of the fear :) Thank you for being such a beautiful and generous hostess to us all. I hope this year brings you much embracing of your beauty. xo
ReplyDeleteI love this - the photos are perfect and the sentiment is so beautiful. I have a tendency to hugs trees, so I may be a bit biased, but I say brava!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great analogy. I love trees.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember whether it's Wayne Dyer who says something along the lines that trees don't worry about how they are growing or whether they're growing in the right direction, they just grow. They just are. (Or words to that effect).
I don't know what it is about trees but even just tree photographs have a positive impact on me.
Thank you! I have been struggling with the whole body theme. This post gave me a clear view in which to see it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLovely, if we could look at ourselves the way we look at trees through your eyes, ahh, wouldn't it we wonderful? Thanks you for the sweetness, the acceptance and the love in your words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteMarjory
Emma thank you! Tree love runs deep, and so does beauty :) Your bias in the case is appropriate...hug away sister!
ReplyDeleteNicola thank you for sharing the tree love! I love the sentiment in the Wayne Dyer quote. One of my favorite meditations involves a big oak tree.
Rennata I'm glad the post helped. I look forward to reading what you've come up with.
Marjory thank you so much for the kind words. Yes it would be wonderful if we could see ourselves that way all of time. Work in progress right? ;)
Tree bodies!! I just love this parallel - your insight and how you write it so beautifully. Love the last paragraph and last sentence, especially!
ReplyDeleteI just came over here via TheBarefootHeart (I saw you'd written about having this trouble of expressing...very interesting coincidence - please visit the post I did yesterday. I think it'll make you smile :) Yours did, me!
~Bonnie
(From one "analysis paralysis" to another! I'm just that way, myself. Like this term!)
well, sugar, i think this post is downright framable. hmmmm . . .where to start . . . i think there's something about trees and women. i know a lot of women (myself included) who take to the woods and let the trees hold the space for them when they are overwhelmed or hatching something - when they are perplexed or exhilirated or afraid.
ReplyDeletewe live right smack in the middle of 10 gorgeously wooded acres - land filled with streams and hills and trees. lots and lots of trees. it relaxes and recharges me to look out at my woods. there are trees of every description. some are young fledglings, finding their way to maturity. some are mature trees that have found their way to the sun around and in spite of the sun-grabber scrubs. there are trees that have fallen and are behind held up by other trees. there are trees that are dead, contributing to the future of the earth the only way they now can: by decaying and enriching the soil.
i was thinking about this earlier this morning then told some friends about it over our breakfast meeting. had thought i'd write a blog about it, and maybe now i will. maybe i've gotten a good start with this longish comment.
i love this post. love it.
Bonnie thank you so much for the comment, and I did get a huge smile from your post :) It's so nice to know that I'm not alone. And I welcome you as an AP sister!
ReplyDeleteJeanne I'll be watching for your post. In fact I better go and check now! I'm always looking forward to your next one ;) I love this - "i know a lot of women (myself included) who take to the woods and let the trees hold the space for them when they are overwhelmed or hatching something - when they are perplexed or exhilirated or afraid." - Maybe this explains my tree obsession as of late.....I am definitely all of the above. Thank you so much for your sweet words.