| Are you overweight and lonely? Have you suffered | | | | color, political opinion and religious intolerance, as well as |
| from bullying, discrimination and exclusion? Are you | | | | physical differences. Some societies like ample hips |
| only three years old? | | | | and big people. Some societies like long earlobes and |
| Stigmatization that reduces the characteristics of a | | | | stretched necks. Some value tiny feet. It is all so |
| person to one trait such as fat, black or old begins in | | | | arbitrary and such nonsense. |
| children as young as three years old according to a | | | | It is up to you to refuse such discrimination by |
| study done by Cramer and Steinwert in 1998. | | | | frightened urgent Stigmatizers. If you have a unique |
| Stigmatization begins with the perception of a physical | | | | body part you have a right to the little corner of the |
| distortion or a behavioral difference that allows others | | | | earth that is yours. No one can impinge on your life |
| to reject and disgrace another human being. Negative | | | | opportunity or dictate to you that you must be |
| treatment of people who are outside the norm | | | | ashamed. Only you can do that to yourself. You make |
| physically is stigmatized to the point of discrimination in | | | | yourself ashamed. So, start there. Drop the shame |
| job applications, higher education, income level, | | | | right now. |
| advancement and relationships. | | | | Charge forth amid others frightened sniggering, |
| The media does its part by presenting ideal physical | | | | sarcasm, comments or stares and do what you want |
| norms skewed sharply to starved looking bodies | | | | to do. Their discomfort is their primal fear of strangers, |
| rather than healthy athletic bodies. Extremely thin | | | | strange and new. Clearly, it is better to be strange than |
| biceps that one sees in photographs of Hollywood's | | | | fearful. Without shame to tie you to your darkened |
| A-list starlets are often an indication of severe | | | | room, perhaps you will join in with some joyful activity |
| anorexia and still these sick young people are revered | | | | or take a walk in the sunlight. |
| by the paparazzi. Is the media frenzy fascination | | | | Think about how you look on the inside more than |
| waiting to see the death of an out of control teenager | | | | how you look on the outside. Your liver is constantly |
| with the anticipation of an exciting car crash or train | | | | trying to detoxify your dirty blood. Any positive |
| wreck? | | | | behavior other than sitting and eating empty calories |
| Have you watched a movie or news reel from the | | | | that overloads your liver and kidneys is good. Every |
| thirties or the forties? The majority of the bodies are | | | | minute you are partaking of life is a minute you are |
| slender. Yet, one third of all Americans are now obese. | | | | getting fit. If you are panting, then you are signaling your |
| What did they have then that we do not have now or | | | | bone marrow to make new blood. It may be hard to |
| is it a question of what they did not have? Additives, | | | | keep going and your body will hurt. Your feelings may |
| food coloring, preservatives, fast food, depleted soils | | | | be trod upon by cruel people but don't let anything stop |
| and brain washing commercials seducing us with | | | | you. Check with your doctor first and get a plan that is |
| succulent close-ups of the sugar-wheat-dairy triad. | | | | right for you. Demand good health and recognition by |
| Why don't we feel or look like the happy people in the | | | | health providers who are often the worst Stigmatizers. |
| commercials? Oh, can they be deceiving and lying, | | | | Imagine that you commit to eating six mini meals the |
| perhaps even poisoning our cells with their fake, dead | | | | size of your two palms of pure organic vegetables, |
| food? Even the diet business appears to be a | | | | good fats, lean protein and low glycemic carbs in |
| multibillion dollar scam as most authorities caution | | | | addition to an hour of cardio a day that makes you |
| against the yo-yo dieting that results in additional weight | | | | breath heavily, then stretching with Pilates or yoga and |
| gain. | | | | add lifting light weights three times a week. |
| Lifestyle changes rather than deprivation will bring you | | | | Miraculously, you will change for the better. These |
| the healthy body that you seek. If you are obese and | | | | kinds of changes are for life. No one taught us these |
| sedentary, shamed with low self esteem then you | | | | habits when we were developing, but we as a country |
| may have a long road ahead of you to change many | | | | need them now. There is no excuse with the health |
| years of habits. Do you want to take a different path? | | | | education available for schools and parents to provide |
| Let us begin with the shame. | | | | less than perfect health for our children today. |
| People are afraid of different. Different had life survival | | | | The point is that you can believe that you are great as |
| threats thousands of years ago. People needed to | | | | you are right now. Unless you accept that you are a |
| recognize their own kind, species, or tribe for safety. | | | | worthy beautiful person regardless of any differences |
| That survival skill remains within our psyche. If you are | | | | from your society's norm, you may not ever take that |
| different - taller, shorter, heavier, lighter, darker, bigger | | | | first short walk. Olympic athletes look the way they do |
| nose, smaller eyes, whatever....people will attempt to | | | | because of the choices they make every day. Are |
| push you out of the group, creating a tight circle of | | | | you a Stigmatizer to yourself? You can only begin to |
| sameness around themselves so that they can feel | | | | make loving choices for your sweet body when you |
| less frightened. We are doing it everyday with skin | | | | choose to love your Self. |