This month’s focus on gratitude has made me shift my focus to an unlikely source: my body. I am a sexual assault survivor and a former anorexic. Like many women, I hate my body. A big part of that is a very common response to sexual assault. When I was in therapy, my therapist had me do an exercise where I focused on a part of my body that I could say I loved, and I would express gratitude for that part of my body. I have never worked my way up past my toes.
Eating disordered behavior was also a response to the sexual abuse I experienced as a child. When I was a teenager, my goal in life was simply to disappear. Fortunately, I made some good friends in high school who helped me discover feminism and come out of my shell. Feminism has helped me learn to love my intellect, my sense of humor, and my passion for activism. But I am still learning to love my body. [Read more...]
