{"id":223,"date":"2011-03-02T11:41:38","date_gmt":"2011-03-02T15:41:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/scnc\/?p=223"},"modified":"2015-03-11T13:27:12","modified_gmt":"2015-03-11T17:27:12","slug":"re-connected-to-beauty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/scnc\/2011\/03\/02\/re-connected-to-beauty\/","title":{"rendered":"Re-Connected to Beauty"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Kelli Swensen, Dietetics Student, Sargent College<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I can\u2019t tell you how many times I\u2019ve re-written this blog post trying to make it perfect. I went to the absolutely amazing Lovin\u2019 Your Body Panel Wednesday February 23 in the Howard Thurman Center, and was completely blown away.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_1772\"<\/p>\n

Walking back my whole body felt lighter. All the small dramas in my life that had been tugging at me were magically massaged away by the words of the panel and the atmosphere of the audience. I was overflowing with a deep happiness that brought me peace and confidence. On my walk back to Kenmore I\u2019m sure the people near me probably thought I was a bit loony, smiling for no reason, but that\u2019s only because they weren\u2019t at the event \u2013 they didn\u2019t have the quotes from the night circling in their heads \u2013 they weren\u2019t connected to their beauty like I was.<\/p>\n

The word of the night, at least for me, was \u201cconnection<\/strong>\u201d. When asked about what advice she finds herself giving to people struggling with eating disorders or body image in general, panelist Whitney Post stressed the importance of the human connection. I didn\u2019t realize the magnitude of this one basic word until a student in the audience stood up, beautifully and passionately expressing her desire to have a body image support group on campus. Looking around while she was talking, almost everyone was smiling or nodding at the idea of a safe place for students to gather together and learn to love and accept their bodies.<\/p>\n

\"youarebeautiful\"<\/p>\n

The Lovin\u2019 Your Body panel went beyond my expectations. Dr. Kimberly Dennis\u2019s account of her struggle with an eating disorder was not only moving, but also surprisingly relatable. Rather than striking a nerve, many of Dr. Kim\u2019s quotes sunk deep, helping to get rid of those negative thoughts that get in the way of fully enjoying each moment. I brought a small notebook with me, thinking I\u2019d be writing down notes like a newspaper reporter. Instead, by the end of the night I had something much more similar to a quote book than a report. Because many of the speakers\u2019 words touched me so profoundly, I want to share them with you.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat I was doing was not loving my body; it was violence on my body\u201d \u2013 Dr Kim<\/p>\n

\u201cMy body wasn\u2019t the problem. The problem was the deep feelings being held inside my body\u201d \u2013 Dr. Kim<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you look like is none of your business\u201d \u2013 Dr. Kim<\/p>\n

\u201cOur eyes are really broken\u201d \u2013 Dr. Kim on the US\u2019s body perception<\/p>\n

\u201cThe interpretations we make [about people\u2019s bodies] are abnormal, extreme, and hateful\u201d \u2013 Dr Kim<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is so freeing to actually go to a RD [registered dietitian]\u201d \u2013 Whitney Post<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is not abnormal, it\u2019s normal. When we feel out of control it\u2019s normal to take extreme measures. But if it\u2019s not caring for yourself, then it\u2019s not working\u201d \u2013 Stacey Zawacki<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re as sick as your secrets\u201d \u2013 Dr. Kim on not getting help for an eating disorder<\/p>\n

\u201cKnow that recovery can be a beautiful thing\u201d \u2013 Whitney Post<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to figure out what you think is beautiful and be that beautiful for yourself\u201d \u2013 Whitney Post<\/p>\n

So, some quick cliff notes in case you weren\u2019t able to make the event:<\/p>\n