Ahhhh Abbie, I love this so much, thank you for all you do!! ❤️
I'm trying to eat when I feel like it, even though (especially at this time of year) my inner voice keeps telling me "it's too much/my husband isn't having as much/....".
Feel the guilt but nourish my body anyways!
Rest without guilt is hard, but I'll try it tomorrow when I have the rare treat of my house to myself for 24h!
Thank you, Julia! Your words mean the world. Keep eating. Keep remembering you deserve rest and slowness without justification. I hope tomorrow is soft and kind. Sending hugs!🫶🏼
My reminder to myself when body kindness is hard is “an oldy but goody”— my body is the least interesting thing about me
**Trigger warning for answer to question 2: ED behaviors and self harm**
And I respect my body when I don’t love it by not causing more harm to it— not purging, not picking at my skin, not cutting, etc. Recognizing that I may not love my body right now, but causing more harm to it is certainly not an avenue to make me hate it less
Abbie, thank you. Thank you for sharing this and bringing it into the light. You’re not alone, and these are beautiful practices of self-compassion. I love what you said—causing more harm will never be a path to more love. So grateful for you ❤️
Fantastic poem, like such a big hug ❤️ I’m so delighted reading it. All these gentle reminders… things we know but conveniently forget in the face of the world’s bombardment. Have a wonderful New Year!
I try to respect my body by letting it rest, from the little to the big ways. I let my stomach rest (I don’t suck it in… a pointless exercise at any body size). I let my mind rest and don’t do food math. I let it eat foods that make me feel safe and happy — sometimes just butter on a bagel and sometimes more. I don’t make it work too hard. I let it be tired. I let it feel like dancing in the kitchen while making dinner.
My reminder continues to be that shrinking my body was never MY idea. It came from other people who got it still from other people. My body had a war declared on it by so many people who didn’t live with it. And I let them. But it protected me. It slowed down my metabolism so I wouldn’t starve. It led me to seek recovery. And it let me be soft and strong all at once. And once I stop perpetrating this war that was other people’s idea, my body and I can live in peace.
Abbie — thank you for everything you do. I lean on your words and this community when it’s hard to be in my body, or harder. And these voices have protected my recovery so much. Thank you thank you thank you.
Ahhhh Abbie, I love this so much, thank you for all you do!! ❤️
I'm trying to eat when I feel like it, even though (especially at this time of year) my inner voice keeps telling me "it's too much/my husband isn't having as much/....".
Feel the guilt but nourish my body anyways!
Rest without guilt is hard, but I'll try it tomorrow when I have the rare treat of my house to myself for 24h!
Thank you, Julia! Your words mean the world. Keep eating. Keep remembering you deserve rest and slowness without justification. I hope tomorrow is soft and kind. Sending hugs!🫶🏼
My reminder to myself when body kindness is hard is “an oldy but goody”— my body is the least interesting thing about me
**Trigger warning for answer to question 2: ED behaviors and self harm**
And I respect my body when I don’t love it by not causing more harm to it— not purging, not picking at my skin, not cutting, etc. Recognizing that I may not love my body right now, but causing more harm to it is certainly not an avenue to make me hate it less
Abbie, thank you. Thank you for sharing this and bringing it into the light. You’re not alone, and these are beautiful practices of self-compassion. I love what you said—causing more harm will never be a path to more love. So grateful for you ❤️
This poem was so heartfelt and beautiful. A balm for the soul. Thank you, Abbie for all you do ❤️
Oh Rebecca, thank you so much for being here. I'm sending you so much compassion heading into the new year.
Fantastic poem, like such a big hug ❤️ I’m so delighted reading it. All these gentle reminders… things we know but conveniently forget in the face of the world’s bombardment. Have a wonderful New Year!
So grateful for you, Tracy! Thank you for commenting and for the very kind words 🙏🏼 Wishing you ease and glimmers in these last few days of the year!
I’m just here to say thank you and I loved your poem! What a perfect poem to carry into 2026. ❤️🩹
Thank you so much, Wendy! I truly appreciate that 🙏🏼🙏🏼
I try to respect my body by letting it rest, from the little to the big ways. I let my stomach rest (I don’t suck it in… a pointless exercise at any body size). I let my mind rest and don’t do food math. I let it eat foods that make me feel safe and happy — sometimes just butter on a bagel and sometimes more. I don’t make it work too hard. I let it be tired. I let it feel like dancing in the kitchen while making dinner.
My reminder continues to be that shrinking my body was never MY idea. It came from other people who got it still from other people. My body had a war declared on it by so many people who didn’t live with it. And I let them. But it protected me. It slowed down my metabolism so I wouldn’t starve. It led me to seek recovery. And it let me be soft and strong all at once. And once I stop perpetrating this war that was other people’s idea, my body and I can live in peace.
Abbie — thank you for everything you do. I lean on your words and this community when it’s hard to be in my body, or harder. And these voices have protected my recovery so much. Thank you thank you thank you.