63 Comments
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Andy Tea's avatar

This is a brilliant article, well said!

And I love the quote from Anaïs Nin, “We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are.” - and all the depth that holds.

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faye boam's avatar

so glad you enjoyed it Andy, thank you! that Anaïs Nin does rear its head in many a circumstance.

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Switter’s World's avatar

Sorry, but I can’t help myself:

Well, my body could use a little slimmin'

I keep my shirt on when I go swimmin'

And I ain't seen my feet since 1984

The old lady wants to roll in the hay

We turn the lights down all the way

Cuz I don't look good naked anymore

No I don't look good naked anymore

I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before

If I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door

And I don't look good naked anymore

Well, I used to be a helluva man

I chopped wood with just one hand

But I can't do the things I've done before

Well, it all happened kinda slow

But I guess I kinda let myself go

Now I don't look good naked anymore

No I don't look good naked anymore

I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before

If I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door

And I don't look good naked anymore

With each and every passing year

Came a lot of french fries and beer

And my belly hung a little closer to the floor

Now my belly is big as a truck

And the old lady don't wanna-- SHE DON'T WANNA!

Cuz I don't look good naked anymore

No I don't look good naked anymore

I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before If

I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door

And I don't look good naked anymore

No I don't look good naked anymore

I'm a deep-fried, double-wide version of the man I was before

If I keep on like I'm doing I won't fit through the door

And I don't look good naked anymore

No I don't look good naked anymore

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Georgia Clare's avatar

Yes! I’ve done exactly this. I used photography and video to heal and changed completely my relationship with my body.

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faye boam's avatar

how wonderful to hear this Georgia! it really is a powerful tool and experience.

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Megan Lee's avatar

This was gorgeous. I want to come back again and again and savor the deeper truths in here... sooo much I resist about myself. To embrace would unfuck so many things.

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faye boam's avatar

i'm so glad you enjoyed it Megan... ane yes, it's deep territory, a lifetime of exploration i think. i have this little saying i remind myself of: go fuck yourself to unfuck yourself. to be applied in any way you like ♥️

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Megan Lee's avatar

ooooooh I looooove that little saying! 🖤🖤🖤 I shall borrow!

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Holly's avatar

Powerful. And I think the power lies in knowing viscerally we are masterpieces despite our "imperfections."

I've definitely got work to do here, thanks for the reminder ❤️❤️‍🔥

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faye boam's avatar

yes, exactly! i've found this practice to be an expansive portal into that visceral experience because it brings the resistance front and center.

...i'll be doing the work with you ♥️🪞thanks for your reflection Holly

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ceece 💌's avatar

as someone who’s so uncomfortable with herself, thank you so much for writing this. it was definitely needed 💗

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faye boam's avatar

ceece I am so so grateful this reached you. I hope it helps 💗 feel free to send me a dm if you have any questions

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Adventures In Aviation!'s avatar

Spot on

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Michelle Bella's avatar

I would love to experience this. I've suffered with body dysmorphia my entire adult life and struggle, especially since having a child and my C-section scar making my tummy look like I have no self-care routine. It doesn’t sit nicely.

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faye boam's avatar

Michelle! I also struggled with body dysmorphia and eating disorders for a couple decades and I can decidedly say THIS practice is one of the most transformative I've experienced. Exposure therapy at its finest. I'm happy to chat if you have any questions about it

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Aristidis Marousas's avatar

Great advice! I’ve actually started to take more self portraits to really look at and accept my body. To appreciate it for what it is instead of what I wish it would be.

If we are lucky to reach old age, what a gift we would have given ourselves to have stacks and digital folders full of photographs of us through the years.

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faye boam's avatar

"To appreciate it for what it is instead of what I wish it would be." What a beautiful practice. Makes me think about how we can only create change when we begin from exactly where we are.

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Student Of Life's avatar

I have read that, when asked why he had painted so many naked people on the ceiling of a church, Michelangelo’s response was:

“What spirit is so empty, what eye so blind, that it cannot see that the foot is more beautiful than the shoe, and the skin more lovely than the garment in which it is clothed?”

It’s been 500 years and most people still haven’t caught up with him. As your piece points out so well, the world would be a much better place if we did.

Dave

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faye boam's avatar

wow I love this quote so much! thank you for sharing it, just gorgeous. and thank you for reading <3

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Student Of Life's avatar

Glad you liked it. You’ll like this even more. The guy who was so disapproving of Michelangelo’s work on the ceiling of the chapel was a bishop, and Michelangelo never forgot the insult, and 16 years later when he was asked to come back and paint the Last Judgment on the wall of the chapel, he painted that bishop in hell, with a special torment that fit the insult. He painted the bishop nude, with a huge serpent wrapped around him, and with the serpent’s massive fangs chewing on the bishop’s cock. And this part of the painting is right next to the door you come through when you enter the chapel so you can’t miss it. Just Google “The Last Judgment” and zoom into the bottom right corner and you’ll see it.

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Tony Beaumont's avatar

I enjoy this , it connects me with me , I feel strong and good , you have to love yourself

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Brooke<3's avatar

literally loved this 10/10 convinced

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faye boam's avatar

AMAZING this makes me jump with joy!!!!

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meraki 💋's avatar

i love this!!

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faye boam's avatar

💋💋💋 it’s so much fun

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Captain Peaches's avatar

Absolutely love this. I'm nearly 50 and my photo feed is full of naked selfies. I have to move away from my adult kids when I'm scrolling for a picture, just because their mama's nude body is everywhere! LOL. I feel hot and secure, and I love looking at the photos I've been taking all through my adult life, ever since digital cameras arrived. Thankful for this journey with my body. And thank you for the reminder to keep going!

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faye boam's avatar

Hahahaha I am very familiar with the challenge of opening the photo gallery publicly. How wonderful to know that you’ve been doing this for so long. And yes! Keep going! I will too :)

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Jessy's avatar

Eish 💥💥💥 🔌💕

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nat's avatar

okay, fine, you’ve convinced me. i’m grabbing my camera.

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faye boam's avatar

Yesssssss! celebrating the fuck out of you nat.

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