Perceptions
A challenge has been issued, and it's taken me an entire day to write about it. It is that difficult.
Over at Feministe, a mission was set. Women were asked to list five things they loved about their body and their self. Just five simple things, and I'm sure that any female would have some trouble listing one or two things or maybe even all five, but among the disABLED community it's a bit more complicated. It's all about appearance, what is lacking or not. When a person sees you for the first time that first glance speaks volumes even if it's unintentional. Unfortunately, in our society the physical is everything, for the most part.
So to say that the last twenty-nine years have been a journey in self-acceptance would be the understatement of the new millennium! Coming up with a list of five lovely things to say about my body was downright excruciating. Not because I don't believe I'm gorgeous, but because I'm afraid of sounding vain.
1. My hair. I absolutely am anal about it. I cut it every three month, condition it when it's supposed to, don't fry it, don't over dye it, etc. It's my hair.
2. I love my eyes. They are green, but they turn into shades of greyish green or green blue depending on what I wear. Who needs contacts with these eyes.
3. My voice. It's loud, it's soft, and it sings.
4. My hands. They're the second thing people notice about me that actually labels me as what I should be and am not. I'm ambidextrous in a nontraditional way. I type with my left and write with my right, and I have the neatest, tiniest handwriting ever. These hands take me everywhere.
5. My butt. Big is in. 'Nuff said.
Ladies, your turn.
Courtesy of Wheelchair Dancer.
