For years, women who want to get that "perfect bikini body" have been told to use visual reminders to keep themselves on track to meet their goal. You know what I mean -- remember those pictures of models in swimsuits taped to the refrigerator so you'd think twice before opening it? I may have imagined this, but somewhere I think there's a pig you can attach to your refrigerator that actually "oinks" when you open the door.
But I digress...
My point is that "visual reminders" (vision boards, anyone?) have long been touted as a useful tool in helping us meet our goals. But when's the last time you thought about a visual reminder to be kind to yourself?
I was thinking about this recently when I came across this interview with Ingrid Cole. If you scroll down to the question about her fingernails, you'll see that Cole paints her pinky fingernail a different color in honor of her 14-year-old daughter, who was having some body image issues. The fingernail, she says, is "to remind her that she is beautiful and to remind us not to talk badly about our bodies."
I love that!
My own visual reminder is a photograph of my mother and I, taken on my wedding day (you can see it in this TODAY Show clip), that I keep on my dresser. Next to it is a photo of my daughter. Every morning when I get ready, I look at those photos to remind me that life is short and it's the beauty of the relationships we create with those we love that really matters. Nobody cares about the size of my behind.
I do love the thought of a visual reminder that I can take with me and I may just adopt Cole's terrific idea. So if you see me out in public and notice that I have one sparkly silver toenail next to a row of red nails, you'll know. I'm keeping it positive.
What about you? What do you use to remind yourself to speak positively about your body?
"Nobody cares about the size of my behind." Funny, but absolutely true! My visual reminder has been a photograph of the painter Georgia O'Keefe in her late 80's, wrinkled and leathery from decades of painting in the sun of Arizona, but strong and beautiful in a fierce, powerful way. I keep this posted on the inside of my closet door to remind me as I get dressed that it is my life's work that will endure, not my face, my hands, my behind or anything else...but now I want a sparkly pinkie toe too!
Posted by: elizabeth patch | 08/19/2009 at 05:30 AM
I try to think positively about my body, but I must admit that I think having a visual reminder might be a good thing.
Posted by: moonduster (Becky) | 08/19/2009 at 08:05 AM
Hello! I just started reading your book last night and while I am only a few chapters in, I LOVE IT! (I have three young daughters and want to raise them to have positive body images.)
One of my very fave quotes is "Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are ..." by Mary Jean Iron. I have a silver cuff bracelet with this inscribed on it. It's my daily reminder that a simple day filled with seemingly mundane things (school, chores, errands) is a treasure in disguise because if we have our health and a family that loves one another, we really do have it all. (And a reminder that a few vanity pounds or stubborn cellulite is nothing in the grand scheme of things ...)
Posted by: Michelle @ A Shade of Gray | 08/19/2009 at 10:36 PM
Becky and Elizabeth, thanks for weighing in on the topic of visual reminders -- sparkly pinkie toes for everyone :-).
Michelle, thanks so much for stopping by. I'm thrilled to hear you're enjoying the book and finding something valuable in it. I love, love, love the quote you mentioned...so very true!
Posted by: Dara Chadwick | 08/21/2009 at 08:20 AM