tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216580752468520957.post256236368848633288..comments2008-10-12T20:06:16.533-07:00Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434178040997100686noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216580752468520957.post-90918797235118898342008-10-12T20:06:00.000-07:002008-10-12T20:06:00.000-07:00I realy appreciate your comment...it makes me think of things from a different angle and I love that. My first though regarding you having a hard time feeling comfortable with your body since gaining a bit of weight is... I wondered what else is going on in your life that may have caused you to gain weight and wondering if whatever that was (grief,transition, empty nest, menopause) is contributing to your negative feelings toward yourself. If your weight gain is just a natural aspect of moving up in years then my second thought is...I wonder what you are saying to yourself about your body. What quiet whispers are going on in your head that may be less than kind and compassionate. I know that we always feel that once we reach a certain age we will, through wisdom and experience escape some of the challenges of youth...but that is wishful thinking. Our issues don't just vanish over time but disappear as a result of our addressing them. I hope this doesn't sound preachy...I just am anxious for you to get to the root of what is going on so that you can revel in your life and body without distraction of those few extra pounds. <BR/><BR/>I agree with your point about the ebb and flow of self-absorption and will be thinking more on that issue in the days to come... and may write about it after I have time to ponder.<BR/><BR/>Thank you again for your comment...<BR/>LisaLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04434178040997100686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8216580752468520957.post-35007768405617344902008-10-11T15:41:00.000-07:002008-10-11T15:41:00.000-07:00Very interesting essay. As a teenager, I was athletic and fit, but extremely self-conscious. Later, in my 30's, when I felt most at home in my body, I was joyous in movement -- tennis or dancing -- but I was young, pretty and fit. And at that time, I was a single mother with young twin boys, who loved sports, and I loved playing with them. I'm now 65. I've just gained 10 lbs and I'm finding it hard to care about my body and even harder to get back on the track of physical activity that I love, for its own sake -- climbing, tennis, biking, hiking, etc. Your point about being self-absorbed is interesting. I think we start out life being self-absorbed, and then become other directed, and end up, in old age, being self absorbed again. Old people talk about ailments, pills, their annoyances, etc. I don't want to be that way, but I'm not sure how to avoid it.<BR/><BR/>PatAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com