What were they on, man?
Love Your Body — New Expanded Edition (Ed: the book's expanded, not your body)
By Louise L. Hay, Specialist Publications, 1989,
paperback,
ISBN 0 9588973 4 4
Body image is a serious topic in the current climate of mass media propaganda, obesity epidemics, and eating disorders, and there are some amazing books on the subject:
The Beauty Myth by Naomi Wolf
Fabulous Figures by Rachel Swift
Where the Girls Are by Susan J Douglas
Reviving Ophelia by Mary Piper
The Body Snatches by Cyndi Tebble
This is not one of them.
Instead of offering serious advice on how to recognize and avoid the pitfalls of the constant barrage of media pressure, the author offers positive affirmations for every part of your body you might possibly have negative feelings about.
Actually, I didn't know you could have negative or positive feelings about some of these bits.
Ask most people what they don't like about themselves, and they will generally tell you they don't like their bottoms, or their waist (or lack of it), or hair. (Ditto)
I can honestly say I've never met anyone consumed with self-hatred for their spleen, but now, if perchance I ever did, I would know what book to give them.
And then they can recite this daily affirmation and learn to love and appreciate my beautiful spleen.
"My only obsession is with the joy of life. My true identity is one of peace and love and joy. I choose the thoughts that create joy for me in every area of my life. My spleen is healthy and happy and normal. I am safe. I choose to experience the sweetness of life. I love and appreciate my beautiful spleen."
Well shucks!
You too can love and appreciate parts of your anatomy to which you had previously never given any thought.
Your scalp, your glands, your rectum, (page 75, I swear I'm not kidding, you too can "love your beautiful rectum") and last, but certainly not least, your genitals.
(Doesn't that make you go blind?)
P.S. For those of you who think I'm being unneccessarily unkind, bear in mind that this is a women who tells people with cancer and aids that they should not go to the doctor, they should just think better, more positive thoughts.