Belly Laughs

I have finally conquered by belly hatred. What I mean is that my belly has been a source of great irritation. Doesn’t every woman have one spot on her body that bothers her more than the rest? Mine was my belly. I always felt like, well, its round. It jiggles. It’s flabby. It’s soft.

Wait a minute. Since when was soft a bad thing?

Seriously, my belly has been the bane of my existence. It’s where I carry weight and before I was more accepting, it drove me crazy. In fact, if I puff it out just so, I can look pregnant. Sometimes I sit in a chair and stick my belly out as far as it will go and rub it in that nurturing way pregnant women do, and I pretend. Sick huh? Because for so long it felt like pregnancy was the only way I could validate my round belly.

Now, just so you don’t think I sat around totally berating myself all day, I have always loved my feet. They are adorable. Seriously, they get compliments from strangers. With a great pedicure, they are perfect. I always felt like if I could just put a bikini on my feet and go to the beach, I’d be a perfect 10.

Anyways. I got to thinking about my belly one day. It always felt so large to me. And then I started to think of perspective and my feelings began to soften. Next to, say, a spoon, my belly is sort of big. Next to a pencil? Larger. But next to the sofa, it’s not really that big at all. Next to a car, it doesn't even register.

Next to the moon my belly is microscopic.

Talk about a new perspective.

In the grand universe in which we live among a multitude of things and beings, one individual belly is not that large. This is a revolutionary thought for all of us who lament our "huge belly" or our "giant thighs." Really? Are your thighs really THAT large when you think of this great big world of ours and the physical space we each take up?

I love to laugh. Great big, loud belly laughs. And how could I go on hating something that was so fun when I was amused? Our bellies do so much for us. They hold in our internal organs. They are soft and cuddly. They jiggle when we laugh. They like to be kissed and rubbed with scented lotion and oil. How could I go on hating something so gentle? My belly is this gentle being in my life and I’ve decided to embrace it. As is. No holds barred. I love my belly. I whisper sweet nothings to it and rub it like a genie's bottle. I tell it how much I appreciate all it does for me. When I look in the mirror I puff it out and say “ho ho ho” and laugh to myself. Santa has a big belly and people love it. Why can’t I claim a little of that positive energy?

I've also named my belly but I'm keeping the title to myself!

Finally, when you think about it, bellies are like snowflakes. Some are small and hard. Some are fat and fluffy. They are all unique and beautiful!