"THIS ONE THING I REALLY LOVE ABOUT MY BODY": MEG FROM MILES FROM ORDINARY

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"This One Thing I Really Love About My Body" is a no nonsense challenge for all of us to put our self admiration into words when it comes to something we never allow ourselves to talk about... body pride. Its a difficult task that counters everything we've learned, but I'm offering you a chance to thwart self hate and submit what you love about you. It could be a body part, it could be a physical attribute, it could be a strength... anything that comes to mind. Other entries are found here and here.
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She's Got Legs.

Each and every time I have sat down to write this, I end up singing ZZ Tops song Legs and inevitably get the jam stuck in my head. Don't get me wrong, it's a great tune.....just a little distracting.

I've been thinking about this project since the first time Jes wrote about it and then reading subsequent submissions from other amazing women. I hesitate to put myself and this contribution in the same category, but I digress.

It is incredibly easy to look in the mirror and pick apart all the things we don't like about ourselves It is so easy to say “well, if this was a little bit bigger” or “if that was a little (or a lot) smaller” it'd be a game changer! If those things were different, then I would totally love myself.

But looking in them mirror and loving what you see look back at you is far from easy. And if we're all completely honest, some days it just plain sucks. There are the days when I look like a hot mess. My hair won't cooperate. Or my face has decided that even in my 30's I should still have to wage an insane war with ache. Or my breasts aren't sitting where they are supposed to be, the dress I am wearing makes me look preggo and whatever other annoying issue or flaw I happen to find that morning which is really distracting.

It's those crappy days though that made me realize there is one part of my body I never complain about.

My legs.

I've always been a legs kind of girl to begin with (I'm looking at you, Justin Verlander, in your super tight baseball pants). They are the first thing I notice on a guy. One could blame it on my first real crush growing up—he ran, played basketball and had an amazing set of legs. But whatever the reason, it seems only natural that it would carry over in my own life and that my legs would be my favorite part of my body.

Sure, my legs are super pale and white all year round (no tan is a healthy tan). My thighs absolutely touch and jiggle when I run. They are covered in childhood scars. And scrapes and bruises from a lack of balance while doing yoga. But I love them all the same.

They are unbelievably strong. They carry me for miles when I run and am convinced I'm going to fail and can't possibly take another step. Sometimes they've a mind of their own and walk me away from situations and people that my heart can't quite manage to let go of. They look pretty damn good when I wear my little black dress and fancy red shoes. And most importantly they remind me of my grandmother who was the kindest, strongest, most loving person I ever had the honor of knowing even  if she did always apologize for passing along “such an unfortunate trait” (i.e. she always said she thought her legs looked “kind of funny”).


While others may think my skirts/dresses are too shortly and my legs aren't quite long enough or tone enough or tan enough, I will always (and proudly) show them off but not just because I love them and how they make me feel. It will be because they are a constant reminder of who I am, what I am, where I am going and where I come from.  
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Thank you Meg for your beautiful articulation; You are a gorgeous human inside and out. Your post left me with a smile and also allowed a sigh of relief as I was able to publish something meaningful on my little quiet blog while I gather my own thoughts worth typing.  You can visit Meg's blog Miles from Ordinary here. Prepare yourself to fall head over heels for her brain. It's inevitable.


14 comments

  1. I love this! Such beautiful and inspiring women!

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  2. Beautiful, and awesome. I love courageous women!

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  3. I totally want to do this!

    PS: You're legs are gorgeous!

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  4. I agree... you have great legs! I inherited my Grandmothers thighs...in fact every kid in the family did... even the skinny one all have Grandma's healthy thighs! Thanks for helping me remember how grateful I am for my legs too! =)

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  5. I've got legs too, and I know how to use them! And... I have amazing lips, beautiful hazel eyes, naturally wavy hair, beautiful smile, lovely hands, and gorgeous skin! Honoring your body, inspires me to honor mine. Thank you for that!

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  6. You absolutely do have great legs, and a beautiful smile.

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  7. Thank you so much for this series. It was such an amazing experience to write this. It's an exercise in self-love that I would encourage every one to try.
    xoxo

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  8. Once upon a time, I wore short skirts and short shorts and loved my legs too... This post reminded me of that. Perhaps I need to rethink my beliefs about my body... Thank you.

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  9. Heck yeah! And Meg, you are beautiful...both inside and out. For realsies! :D

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  10. I just found your blog, read dozens of posts, and I think you've changed my life, today.

    Thank you, for not being afraid, and speking the truth to those of us who have been!

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  11. Love your big smile, sunny kitchen, and affirmation! This especially: "Sometimes they've a mind of their own and walk me away from situations and people that my heart can't quite manage to let go of." Sounds like those legs love you back. :-)

    Jaybird Blog

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  12. Love the photographs...the lady is quite beautiful

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  13. I love this! Your legs look absolutely beautiful as do you :).

    Sabrina
    www.onecityowl.com

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  14. I love reading positive posts from lovely ladies like this! Meg, you are inspiring by putting yourself out there like this- and I agree with some of the other comments, the pictures are stellar! I recently did a post about my calves, and why they're not all that bad (I used to HATE my legs!)and it was really therapeutic. I think if the world were more full of "Yay, I'm fine just the way I am" attitudes, we'd all be a lot happier :)

    Sam
    http://afoxamongferrets.blogspot.com/

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