Eating Disorder ProAna Blogger Focused on Body Image and Self Esteem

These two executive FREAKS from the Bank of England held a "Dress for Success" day in order issue the following memo to their female employees;

“Look professional, not fashionable; be careful with perfume; always
wear a heel of some sort — maximum 2 inches; always wear some sort of
makeup — even if it’s just lipstick.” Shoes and skirt must be the same
color. No-no’s include ankle chains — “professional, but not the one
you want to be associated with;” white high heels; overstuffed
handbags; an overload of rings, and double-pierced ears.

In the midst of the largest financial crisis since the Depression, you're telling me THIS is what these dudes are spending their time on? When questioned by WWD, they stuttered around with weak excuses blaming the messaging on some consultants.

We have officially entered The Twilight Zone.
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"Mama, at school when we sing Happy Birthday to the teachers, we don't say their age," inquired my 9 year old daughter.

"Oh really? What do you mean?" knowing full well exactly what she was getting to.

"We skip the 'how old are you part of the song. Why?" she said.

How would you answer this question?

I answered it by telling her that women have a 'thing' about their age. I told her that society and media tends to make women feel like its better to be young, and then I went on to say I think its was nuts especially because I am so very proud to be turning the big 4-0 this year!

images from Dove ProAge Blog

My girl did not skip a beat, and responded with this,

"Well Grandma is old. I mean, she is like 70…..and Grandma is the greatest!"

"Yep babe, Grandma is the greatest." I said with a huge smile spreading across my face.

Well, that was easy,

-mamaV

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Who would you rather hang with?

Natural beauty Streep or Frozen Face Kidman?

Pistol Bening or Balloon Boobs Beckham? (c'mon! how do you even haul those things around?)

Real-deal Curtis or 'She Was So Cute Before' Ryan?

Think about who you really want to be.

What type of image are you projecting now?

Think about what you want your legacy in life to be. 

Do you want to be remembered for your vainty?

Think about the type of people you like to be around?

Are they hard, fake, and frozen….or are they soft, gentle, and real?

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The word "feminist" scares me.

No matter how you cut it, declaring oneself a feminist has a negative connotation; something along the lines of man hating, bitchy lesbians, with hairy armpits.

I started on this trail a few months ago, because I have been called a feminist a few times, and it caught me by surprise. I figured should educate myself on exactly what the word means, and then figure out how I fit in. Big problem – everyone has a different definition.

Google "what is feminism" to find over 3 million results. That's 3M+ pages of content, filled with everything from bible-thumpers reminding us of our need to obey our husbands, to completely whacked out women haters who I wouldn't want to come face to face with on the street.

So, I whipped up a definition of my own;

All people matter.
Inequality of rights is unfair regardless of sex or race. 


Being a feminist means you live, breath and exude your real self.
Being a feminist means you are not afraid to demand equality.
Being a feminist means you help other women, girls, and daughters discover their own voice.

That's a far cry from the Feminazi label coined by genius Rush Limbaugh (I have to apologize for even writing
that word, it sickens me that this has become a catch phrase).

How about you- are you a feminist who stands proud? Or one who lurks in the background?
Does my definition classify me as a feminist? If yes, where do I fit into the chaos?

Peace out,

-mamaV

"She said she wasn't going to eat her dessert because she was going to the doctor in the afternoon and she would be weighed."

These are words uttered by my 8 year old daughter yesterday. The comment was made by a classmate of hers at GRADE SCHOOL.

My heart sank. This is it, this is where it all starts. No turning back.

But at 8 years old?? If you can't recall back, 8 years old is 3rd grade. Yes. All the stats show this is when body image issues start, and dieting comes into play, and girls self esteem across the land slide directly down the tubes with the rest of us…but somehow I wasn't expecting it. My girl was just born – wasn't she?

What do we expect when every New Year everybody and their brother is pitching the latest diet, Oprah herself is beating herself bloody over weight gain, TV is plastered with YOU ARE A FAT ASS ads, and Amazon carries over 14,000 diet books. Lord help me.

But then…

"We are too young for this. It's ridiculous."

Words uttered again – not by me – by my daughter.

I asked "Why?" as a smile spread across my face.

"We just are. We are kids. We aren't supposed to be thinking about that stuff. Because we are kids."

"That's right babe. That's right." I said knowing its best to hold back my over the top emotions on this subject.

As I looked at my angel face girl, I was so proud, and so scared, butterflies fluttering in my stomach. But then, this unexpected confidence came over me. We will be ok, we will work through these ugly years together, just like my mom and I did,

At least, that's my hope.

-mamaV

I actually had a male boss say this about me behind my back. It took everything in me not to strangle the bastard. Needless to say, my tenure with him was short and certainly not sweet. 

Check out how the pay gap is shrinking at a snails pace since the 1960s.

Ladies- we are only making .77 cents on the dollar compared to our male counterparts.

Why are we not up in arms about this?

Do you believe that this discrimination is not happening to you?

You can bet your ass it is.

So when you go to work or school tomorrow, I want you to glance at the dude sitting next to you and think about the fact that he makes more than you simply because he is a man.

Or, if you are really in a mood, ask your male colleagues that you trust to confide in you their pay. I can tell you right now you will be irate at what you find. Then shove it in your bosses face and demand equal pay.

This is why I FINALLY run my own business. No more letting others control my financial future. No more Corporate greed driving my income potential.

This is bullshit beyond belief.

Carry on,

-mamaV

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WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Join the WAGE project

Contact The Speaker of The House Nancy Pelosi

Order your Equal Pay Day Kit

I checked the results of the latest poll on Self Esteem, and I feel discouraged….but not surprised. Check this out;

Question: How is our Self Esteem these days?

See full poll results at the right side of the blog. Sorry – only US map available!

Nearly 60% hate ourselves. Hate. That is the strongest word we can use against ourselves, and I chose it deliberately for the poll.

I want to hear from you…

Why did you vote how you did? 

If you didn't vote – do so now and explain your choice.

I could sit here and tell you all the benefits about the power of positive thinking, and try to convince you to put on a happy face, but unless you feel it and believe it, and want it…you'll never get there.

I love myself. I truly do, and I am not afraid to say it.

I'll be 40 this year and I am excited about life! Sure, aging is kinda scary, the wrinkles are starting to show, the body not the same as 20 years ago, but I say who cares! Who cares because I am here to live my life and I am not going to miss one single moment of it on vanity.

I was born with one gift, and that gift is to have a very distinct, constant, awareness of death.

Life can not and should not ever be taken for granted because it can be over in a snap. If I was gone tomorrow, I would go knowing that I lived my best life, I spent everyday trying to be the best person I could be, I tried to give and love to the fullest, and most of all – no regrets.

No regrets…now that's an amazing thing to be able to claim.

How about you?

Love,
mamaV