Читать книгу Strength - Sue Patton Thoele - Страница 26

Recently I was waiting in an overcrowded airport boarding area that served three different gates and offered almost no amenities. People were sitting on the floor, one overstimulated dog was wide-eyed and wiggly, little kids were cranky—as were a few of us bigger kids. Squashed into a cramped two-chair space, with colorful bags and sacks scattered all around them, was a foursome of women having the time of their lives. Their frivolity was contagious, and hearing them laughing and kidding around with each other relieved the uncomfortable tedium of waiting. Unexpectedly, a part of their good-natured bantering gave me an important lesson.

One woman was joking about dieting when her generously proportioned friend retorted, “Honey, I finally decided, since I'm gonna be large, I might as well love large.” I don't know if the double entendre was intended, but the Oprahesque replier seemed A-OK with herself just as she was and appeared to be a person who also loved herself and others in a large way.

When I remember, I adopt her attitude, and instead of likening my own generous body to a Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade balloon, I affirm I am built to love large. It makes a difference, shifts the energy from criticism to love, and that's huge. In a good way.