Lately, I have been obsessing on numbers – my times on the my runs, pace on my run, the length of my runs, and, unfortunately and very new for me, my age. I have not put it straight in my mind why this sudden obsession with age. I really do not recall having these issues as I approached 20, 30, or 40. Why should have them as I approach – and it is still over a year away – 50?
To my rescue comes Operation Beautiful – the web site and the book. While the goal is to stop negative body talk, I read and read and applied the stop talk to my age issues. I have decided I am just going back to being me, not the obsessive almost 50 year old. Me – the mom of six who is running a marathon in about two months.
Caitlyn Boyle has edited a book about the Operation Beautiful mission. While Operation Beautiful is mostly based on stopping “fat” talk, I have taken the “love yourself” message to my aging this past week. As I read of the struggles these younger women were having with body issues, I could definitely relate to a time back when I was their ages. Now, I have pretty much come to terms with my body but aging is a different issue all together. Operation Beautiful helped me through this little bump in life.
Back when I first read Mary Pipher’s Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls, I started recommending that book as reading for any parent – with girls or boys. Now on my recommendation list will go Operation Beautiful for all people, not just parents. I am also going to order two copies for my local school district’s middle school and high school libraries.
Disclaimer: I did receive a copy of Operation Beautiful from the publisher for no cost and for review purposes.
August 16th, 2010 at 7:25 am
Sounds like an interesting read. It’s never a bad idea to focus on quieting that inner critic in our head.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I loved the book. Plenty of good information to read and also individual stories. Great format!
August 16th, 2010 at 8:36 am
Aw, I am glad the book helped you through this little speedbump. I have been reading it at bits at a time and it is very uplifting. I must say, though- you are awesome! Approaching 50 and running a marathon while raising six children is nothing short of amazing. Thank you for being such an inspiration!
August 25th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Thanks, Katie. You are making me blush.
August 16th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
What an important issue, Nicki. I’m surprised that with all of us babyboomers running around dealing with aging and the resistance to aging, that no one’s written about book about not hating ourselves as we age, similar to those book about body image.
How do I live the way I’ve always talked – saying that aging is a natural part of life and that just like I had my time in each of those decades you mentioned, I have my time now too?
August 25th, 2010 at 8:07 am
It is hard to live the way we may feel. I have never been a big fighter against aging. It is a natural process but then that process sneaks up on me when I least expect it.
August 16th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
(Almost) 50 AND running marathons? You’re my hero! A beautiful hero, at that!
August 25th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Thanks, Jane!
August 17th, 2010 at 8:19 am
I agree with Katie….I’m so impressed with how you’re training, and writing, and raising 6 kids…you ROCK!
August 25th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Thanks, Molly! I don’t know if I could have trained like you do with my kids younger. Now there is only one that has not graduated high school, it is so much easier.
August 19th, 2010 at 6:40 am
Isn’t it a beautiful book? And can extend so many lessons on loving ourselves.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Wonderful book!
August 19th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
I’ve told you before and I’ll tell you again – you amaze me. Your entire attitude on life is inspiring. And this book, perhaps I must read. I need to get to that place where I’m comfortable in my own skin.
August 25th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Christine!!! Your skin is beautiful as are you!!
August 25th, 2010 at 8:09 am
Sounds like an interesting, and useful, book!