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What do you give up for Lent?

February 6th begins the season of Lent. Every year I give up coffee and chocolate (I cannot actually fast because of my health). I also give up buying those little extras like Starbucks, lunches and dinners out and so on. I then calculate the savings from this, and donate it to a local charity, such as a shelter or food bank.

Lent is also a time of prayer and meditation, which seems to go well with the rainy, cold weather we’ve been having lately. There is always plenty to reflect upon in this life.

If you’ve never observed Lent, or you’d like to learn more, please visit http://www.squidoo.com/lent2me .

Thanks!

Body Acceptance?

Issues about women’s perception of their own bodies: I guess this is a subject I never really thought about until I had daughters of my own. They were almost instantly being bombarded by dolls (especially Barbie- ick!), beauty contest applications (still haven’t found the person who put their names on *that* list) and all the other female gender specific toys. All of a sudden, I started to bristle!

I have always been a moderate feminist, and stay at home mom since my kids came along. I guess I conform with many traditional conventions, and I don’t mind being a woman at all. But I chose this life, and I appreciate all the women’s rights advocates who helped make it possible for me to be at home, yet maintain my love of freelance writing, travel, and dare I say, adventure.

So why then, if we have made such strides in regards to our life choices, we are still clinging to a male defined code of beauty? Why are millions of women slaves to eating disorders, fad diets and dangerous drugs and medical mutilations in an attempt to attain a hopeless ideal? Why don’t they see past the illusion of “photoshopped”, airbrushed images to the truth?

There seems to be only one corporate entity who gets what the majority of women already feel, and that has been Dove (Unilever). I would suggest watching the films at the following two links:

There is a great short film about the distortion of beauty in the media, and I can tell you first hand, it is 100% accurate.

Campaign For Real Beauty

Pro Age Campaign: A banned commercial

I want girls and women of all ages to know that they have value far beyond their physical appearances, and that real beauty is a journey that starts within, when they can truly accept themselves.

My theory is that through good nutrition and exercise, healthy relationships with others, and helping others when we can, women can form their own individual identity and beauty, and in turn, teach future generations of women healthy self image and true self worth.

Please visit Beauty Culture, my online magazine.

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