Nothing to do with the 1981 album release by Imagination - if like me you’re ancient enough to remember that. I think that’s was more to do with ‘intimate relationships’ (AKA sex), whereas this is definitely to do with actual physical bodies and how we feel about our own. I’ve always had an ambivalent relationship with my body, which is to say, I suppose, an ambivalent relationship with myself. It started young (doesn’t it always?) My parents didn’t seem to have any hang ups about their bodies, especially my dad; he was if anything, what I would call ‘body confident’: unafraid to strut his stuff and never bothered about what other people thought. My mum was always slim, partly through constitution and genetics, but also through poor health. She might not have dressed to the part, but she’s had toned arms and a slim figure for most of her life.
Completely recognise this. I had different body issues which led to bullying in later years at school. Now I'm overweight and would like to say I don't care what I look like, but I do. I knew you when we were both young women and never understood why you disliked your body as it looked fine to me, and I daresay you thought the same of mine. Some of it is in personal perception of what other people see and find 'normal'/'perfect'. Rationally I knew that there were girls at school who had body issues that I didn't (bad and visible scoliosis for one, and serious kidney disease for another plus those who were overweight) yet they didn't get picked on and I did. Sometimes, the 'reason' why you're bullied is a sort of 'excuse' for finding someone and isolating them. I have no idea why it happens, it's just vile that it does. On a lighter note, nowadays my main (ok not really but it's up there) aim in life is to find wide fitting shoes that are stylish with a heel. I generally wear flattish shoes but now and again I want a heel (and which will accommodate a ganglion too). Finding them however is a nightmare. Clarks 'wide fit' are about 5mm wider than their normal ones it seems. Hotter are great for daily, but not exactly smart. So if anyone knows of any - I'd be glad to know.
I think ‘difference’ or perceived difference is often a focus for bullying, though I agree with what you say. I’ve not been bothered about what people think of me for a long time, but the ‘perfect body’ myth is an ingrained and persuasive one. For what it’s worth, I always thought you were gorgeous. Still are. I learnt early in life that character was more important than looks, thankfully, though it didn’t mean I was a good ‘judge’ of it.
Don’t ask me about shoes. My still dodgy feet are a nightmare, but Reiker, Ecco, Padders, Mephisto and Josef Seibel are all brands I can get my feet and orthotics into.
Completely recognise this. I had different body issues which led to bullying in later years at school. Now I'm overweight and would like to say I don't care what I look like, but I do. I knew you when we were both young women and never understood why you disliked your body as it looked fine to me, and I daresay you thought the same of mine. Some of it is in personal perception of what other people see and find 'normal'/'perfect'. Rationally I knew that there were girls at school who had body issues that I didn't (bad and visible scoliosis for one, and serious kidney disease for another plus those who were overweight) yet they didn't get picked on and I did. Sometimes, the 'reason' why you're bullied is a sort of 'excuse' for finding someone and isolating them. I have no idea why it happens, it's just vile that it does. On a lighter note, nowadays my main (ok not really but it's up there) aim in life is to find wide fitting shoes that are stylish with a heel. I generally wear flattish shoes but now and again I want a heel (and which will accommodate a ganglion too). Finding them however is a nightmare. Clarks 'wide fit' are about 5mm wider than their normal ones it seems. Hotter are great for daily, but not exactly smart. So if anyone knows of any - I'd be glad to know.
I think ‘difference’ or perceived difference is often a focus for bullying, though I agree with what you say. I’ve not been bothered about what people think of me for a long time, but the ‘perfect body’ myth is an ingrained and persuasive one. For what it’s worth, I always thought you were gorgeous. Still are. I learnt early in life that character was more important than looks, thankfully, though it didn’t mean I was a good ‘judge’ of it.
Don’t ask me about shoes. My still dodgy feet are a nightmare, but Reiker, Ecco, Padders, Mephisto and Josef Seibel are all brands I can get my feet and orthotics into.