2.4.21 // my body

My body in Italy.
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Being in Italy was such a beautiful reminder for me and my relationship with my body.
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A beautiful reminder to love my body.
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A reminder that made itself clear in many different ways over the course of the last two weeks.
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However, the most predominant reminder was the one that was displayed on our Airbnb's wall.
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A stunning stone facade carving of a beautiful Roman goddess (as shown on the right) greeted us every morning. While not "sexy" by current societal standards, she exuded beauty with wide hips and curves.
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Now, I should clarify by saying, she also isn't the standard of beauty. The idea that there is a standard of beauty is a big issue and one I staunchly disagree with, but that a topic for another time...
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But, she was, for me, a reflection of myself in a lot of ways. The way her stomach, which wasn't ripped with abs when it showed through her draped garment, the way her thighs kissed, and the way her arms were soft but not weak.
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Years ago, I never would have posted this photo. I would have only been able to see the cellulite on the back of my legs.
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But Italy reminded me that I am more than just the bumps on the back of my thighs, seeing that beautiful reminder on the wall every morning made me see more.
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It reminded me to see myself as more than just some classification of beauty standard, but as a human, perfectly imperfect.