She Checked Me Out

SHE CHECKED ME OUT

 

She looked me up and down.

I saw her gaze taking in every aspect of my appearance

My clothes

My jewelry

Every wrinkle

grey hair

and fat roll

 

I saw her assess my size

I heard her mind comparing her body

to my body.

 

I imagined that she was judging how

good I am at my job based on my size

 

I felt

Unsafe

Unseen

And

Unloved

 

And then I remembered

I remembered all the stories

Of all the women who sit with me

to heal their relationship with their body.

 

And the truth is

Every way she judges and scans my body

In every way she evaluates my self-worth by my shape and size

Is how she judges HERSELF

 

The way she looks at me

Is the way she looks at herself

 

I know she gazes in the mirror and judges

Her thighs, her belly, her hips, herself.

 

I know she bases her value on her size.

 

I know when I get scanned

With that critical eye

She is body-checking

She is body-hating

She is body-shaming

HERSELF

 

She is at war with her own body.

 

And I wish for her

Body-Peace

 

 

 

~ Nina Manolson

For more of my poetic essays: https://ninamanolson.com/food-for-thought/

 

 

Nina Manolson, M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Nationally Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Psychology of Eating Coach, Body-Trust® Guide.

 

 

 

If you’d like help with navigating an authentic and respectful relationship with your body. Let’s talk.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nina Manolson, MA, NBC-HWC, board certified Health Coach, Psychology of Eating Coach and Certified Body-Trust Provider, believes that every woman deserves to feel good in her own body.

She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life! She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and The Nourished Woman Nation.

She helps busy women feel good in their own body.. She specializes in working with women over 40 who have tried other diets and approaches but are still struggling with their body and food.

She’s the creator of the BODY-LOVE MAP and the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

To get your F.R.E.E. ebook: HOW TO BE A WOMAN AT EASE IN YOUR BODY  click here.