There are so many things in the world that we may admire or even get inspired by, but there’s one main thing we may want to fall in love with before we start noticing the beauty of other things. It’s our own reflection in the mirror. Among all the numerous recipes for conjuring up self-love within ourselves, psychologists advise us to never compare ourselves to others and stop caring about other people’s opinions. Actress and producer Lena Dunham knows a lot about cultivating love for her own body despite all the criticism she faced, and she happily shares her journey with us all.
Lena Dunham doesn’t accept the term “body positivity,” and here’s why.
Actress and writer Lena Dunham has recently added another string to her bow and collaborated with the brand 11 Honoré to create a plus-size clothing collection. But the very term “plus size” frustrates Lena, and so is the term “body positivity.” In one of her Instagram posts, she explains that she feels more “body tolerant” than “body positive.”
In her interview, Dunham said, “The thing that’s complicated about the body-positive movement is it can be for the privileged few who have a body that looks the way people want to feel positive. We want curvy bodies that look like Kim Kardashian has been up-sized slightly. We want big beautiful butts and big beautiful breasts and no cellulite and faces that look like you could smack them onto thin women.”
Dunham has a very special relationship with her own body.
Dunhams path to self-love started with a decade-long journey with endometriosis. Since she started her own fight against it, she has been candidly sharing how it influenced both her emotional health and her relationship with her own body image. In her Instagram post, she emotionally described how she fluctuated between loving her body and the opposite.
She wrote, “Ya know when you’re home alone, and you realize you’d be happier in a hot lil’ onesie than your ketchup and cat food stained pajamas? And it’s not about a boy or a photo shoot or a weight loss before-and-after, it’s just for the feeling of glee you get from dressing your one and only corporeal form in pleasing fabrics, the unique pleasure of admiring the twists and turns of the body that loves the heck out of you even when you don’t love it.”
Dunham is powerfully addressing all people who come to her page with criticism.
In 2021, Dunham tied the knot with musician Luis Felber. It was such a darling event for her that she wore 3 wedding dresses to marry her love and shared the photos on her Instagram. However, she started getting some “gnarly” comments in her feed from people who commented on her body and appearance. The actress didn’t hesitate for a minute to address them with a powerful message.
She wrote, “One narrative I take issue with, largely because it’s a story I don’t want other women, other people, to get lodged in their heads, is that I should somehow be criticized because my body has changed since I was last on television. […] But lastly, when will we learn to stop equating thinness with health/happiness?”
Dunham’s powerful message can be echoed in the hearts of many.
For all people who have ever hesitated about embracing their body image, Dunham has some simple yet wise advice. She says, “Of course weight loss can be the result of positive change in habits, but guess what? So can weight gain. The pics I’m being compared to are from when I was with an undiagnosed illness. In the last 4 years, I’ve begun my life as someone who aspires toward health and not just achievement.
These changes have allowed me to be the kind of sister/friend/daughter that I want to be and yes — meet my husband (who, by the way, doesn’t recognize me in those old photos because he sees how dimmed my light was). I say this for any other person whose appearance has been changed with time, illness, or circumstance — it’s okay to live in your present body without treating it as transitional. I am, and I’m really enjoying it. Love you all.”
Do you find Lena Dunham’s example inspiring? What do you love the most about your appearance?
Preview photo credit Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images, lenadunham / Instagram
A Wife Checks Her Husband’s Phone and Uncovers a Shocking Surprise
Laughter is more than just a response to humor—it’s a natural stress reliever. It helps reduce stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, promoting relaxation. Additionally, it’s great for heart health, as it improves blood flow and maintains healthy blood vessels, lowering the risk of heart problems.
That’s why we all enjoy a good laugh, especially from jokes that catch us by surprise, like this one:
A wife, feeling suspicious of her husband’s behavior, decided to check his phone. She stumbled upon three curious contact names:
- The Tender One
- The Amazing One
- Lady of My Dreams
Her heart raced as she dialed the first number.
Conversation 1
Mother: “Hello?”
Wife: “Hi, who am I speaking with?”
Mother: “This is David’s mom. Who’s this?”
Wife: (feeling embarrassed) “Oh, it’s Sarah. Sorry, I didn’t realize it was you.”
Mother: “No problem, dear. Is everything alright?”
Wife: “Yes, everything is fine. Thank you.”
Relieved yet still curious, she dialed the second number.
Conversation 2
Sister: “Hey there!”
Wife: “Hi, um, who is this?”
Sister: “It’s Anna, David’s sister. Who’s calling?”
Wife: (sighing in relief) “Oh, Anna, it’s Sarah. Sorry to bother you.”
Sister: “No worries! What’s up?”
Wife: “Nothing, just checking something. Thanks!”
Finally, she mustered the courage to call the third number. To her surprise, her own phone started ringing.
Realizing her mistake, she was overwhelmed with guilt for doubting her husband. In an emotional gesture, she gave him her entire month’s salary as a way to apologize.
But the twist? Her husband used the money to buy a gift for his girlfriend, whose contact name was saved as Uncle Mike the Mechanic.
If this joke brought a smile to your face, don’t forget to share it with your loved ones—it might just brighten their day too!
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