There are so many things in the world that we may admire or even get inspired by, but there’s one main thing we may want to fall in love with before we start noticing the beauty of other things. It’s our own reflection in the mirror. Among all the numerous recipes for conjuring up self-love within ourselves, psychologists advise us to never compare ourselves to others and stop caring about other people’s opinions. Actress and producer Lena Dunham knows a lot about cultivating love for her own body despite all the criticism she faced, and she happily shares her journey with us all.
Lena Dunham doesn’t accept the term “body positivity,” and here’s why.
Actress and writer Lena Dunham has recently added another string to her bow and collaborated with the brand 11 Honoré to create a plus-size clothing collection. But the very term “plus size” frustrates Lena, and so is the term “body positivity.” In one of her Instagram posts, she explains that she feels more “body tolerant” than “body positive.”
In her interview, Dunham said, “The thing that’s complicated about the body-positive movement is it can be for the privileged few who have a body that looks the way people want to feel positive. We want curvy bodies that look like Kim Kardashian has been up-sized slightly. We want big beautiful butts and big beautiful breasts and no cellulite and faces that look like you could smack them onto thin women.”
Dunham has a very special relationship with her own body.
Dunhams path to self-love started with a decade-long journey with endometriosis. Since she started her own fight against it, she has been candidly sharing how it influenced both her emotional health and her relationship with her own body image. In her Instagram post, she emotionally described how she fluctuated between loving her body and the opposite.
She wrote, “Ya know when you’re home alone, and you realize you’d be happier in a hot lil’ onesie than your ketchup and cat food stained pajamas? And it’s not about a boy or a photo shoot or a weight loss before-and-after, it’s just for the feeling of glee you get from dressing your one and only corporeal form in pleasing fabrics, the unique pleasure of admiring the twists and turns of the body that loves the heck out of you even when you don’t love it.”
Dunham is powerfully addressing all people who come to her page with criticism.
In 2021, Dunham tied the knot with musician Luis Felber. It was such a darling event for her that she wore 3 wedding dresses to marry her love and shared the photos on her Instagram. However, she started getting some “gnarly” comments in her feed from people who commented on her body and appearance. The actress didn’t hesitate for a minute to address them with a powerful message.
She wrote, “One narrative I take issue with, largely because it’s a story I don’t want other women, other people, to get lodged in their heads, is that I should somehow be criticized because my body has changed since I was last on television. […] But lastly, when will we learn to stop equating thinness with health/happiness?”
Dunham’s powerful message can be echoed in the hearts of many.
For all people who have ever hesitated about embracing their body image, Dunham has some simple yet wise advice. She says, “Of course weight loss can be the result of positive change in habits, but guess what? So can weight gain. The pics I’m being compared to are from when I was with an undiagnosed illness. In the last 4 years, I’ve begun my life as someone who aspires toward health and not just achievement.
These changes have allowed me to be the kind of sister/friend/daughter that I want to be and yes — meet my husband (who, by the way, doesn’t recognize me in those old photos because he sees how dimmed my light was). I say this for any other person whose appearance has been changed with time, illness, or circumstance — it’s okay to live in your present body without treating it as transitional. I am, and I’m really enjoying it. Love you all.”
Do you find Lena Dunham’s example inspiring? What do you love the most about your appearance?
Preview photo credit Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images, lenadunham / Instagram
Riona’s Miracle Journey: From Tragedy to Triumph
Seeing the horrific abuse some dogs receive at the hands of people is incredibly upsetting. Riona, a charming pitbull mix, is one such courageous survivor. She had to go through the unthinkable—having her owner set her on fire. However, Riona is finally headed to her new forever home after a year of resiliency and recuperation.
In June of last year, Riona ran down the street in Nutbush, Tennessee, enveloped in flames, shocking the locals. There was no mistaking that this was a purposeful act of cruelty because of the strong gasoline odor that pervaded the space. Riona had been purposefully set on fire, as corroborated by witness statements and ring camera film. This is a horrible reality.
The poor puppy lost its ear and sustained terrible burns. Riona’s left eye was preserved because to the swift emergency response. The loving staff at Tails of Hope Dog Rescue took her in right away, and they made arrangements for Bluff City Veterinary Specialists to treat her. Her substantial fourth-degree burns throughout her body required numerous skin grafts, making the road to recovery difficult and drawn out. Riona fearlessly kept a cheerful attitude during her recuperation process in spite of the trauma she had experienced.
Riona’s tale took the world by storm, winning over millions of hearts in the process. Her situation was made public via a TikTok video that went viral, inspiring an outpouring of compassion and solidarity. Gifts and donations from kindhearted people touched by Riona’s tenacity and resolve came in.
In the midst of this touching reaction, justice started to come into its own. Riona’s fire-starter, 43-year-old Quishon Brown, was taken into custody and accused of assault and felonies including animal abuse. Riona’s story also had a larger effect, leading to Tennessee passing a new law against animal abuse.
Over the course of several months, Riona’s health became better every day. Riona’s story took an amazing turn almost a year after her harrowing ordeal: she had finally found her everlasting home! This was a joyful turn of events!
With much excitement, Tails of Hope said that they will be taking Riona to her new family via a ten-hour road trip. As they discussed the specifics of her devoted everlasting home, excitement erupted. Riona would have a large yard to explore, kids to spoil her, and other furry friends to play with. Riona’s new family can give her the treatment she needs because they understand the depth of her injuries and have experience working in the medical sector.
Riona’s journey is just getting started, even if it looks like it’s heading to an end. Her transformation from sorrow to success is quite remarkable. In a moving Facebook post, Tails of Hope recognized the teamwork that went into this inspiring rescue. The good that would come from one courageous dog’s struggle to survive seemed unimaginable.
Tails of Hope serves as a reminder that their work is never done, even when Riona begins her new chapter. They demonstrated that there is always someone in need by taking in another burn victim right away. Every rescue offers the chance to contribute to yet another amazing tale of healing and hope.
Despite the brutality that plagues Riona’s background, we take comfort in the fact that she is currently moving toward a better future. These kinds of endearing tales are what give us hope for humanity again. Let’s spread the word about this encouraging news, honoring Riona’s tenacity and offering our love and support to her as she embarks on this new journey.
Go here to find out more about Riona’s amazing journey and the significance of her narrative.
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