Gosh this was beautiful to read. It reminded me of my 2 year old whenever I changed her nappy or get her dressed I squish and kiss her thighs because they’re scrumptious. And I make ‘mmmm’ yummy noises while I do it. When she catches my bare thighs when I get out of the shower she rushes over all excited and makes ‘mmmmm’ yummy noises and kisses them and squishes because she thinks that’s what you do when you see thighs. All thighs are lovely and should be treated like a delicious piece of cake.
I love the way this story unfolds to uncover the beauty but also complexity the body can hold, its stories. As someone’s whose body is shaped by chronic pain, I really appreciated reading this.
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. It is truly inspirational for me, struggling as I have with the changes of a midlife body. I read somewhere recently - or maybe I heard someone say recently - "when I was a child I didn't HAVE a body, I WAS a body." Reading this piece made me think of those words again, that notion that we are not separate from our bodies - viewing them, controlling them, hating them, or loving them. We simply ARE bodies. No distinction. Somehow thinking of myself and my body and one entity feels subversive and liberating. Thanks again for your writing. This was wonderful.
Omg just so so so good - as per usual. Muscle wasting when you’re bed bound is mental and so upsetting! I remember after being bed bound for a year and my knees buckling while walking to the the toilet or the arches of my feet hurting when I was walking round the hospital, my shoulders and back in agony anytime I stood up for more than 1 minute. I dream of getting that thick juicy muscle back. I’ve had people say they’re envious of my sick body because it is thin - it’s super weird. And sometimes even I’m tricked for the tiniest moment, where I see myself the thinnest I’ve ever been and think huh, I look good. But then I remember how much I’d love to run or climb or do a plank or lift something not even that heavy or stand up at a concert or DANCE!!!!!!
Beautiful, Amani. I’m so glad to have read this piece and for whatever piece drew me to your work the first time so I’d be drawn into this one. I’m writing a chapter in a memoir that involves a time at a nudist resort, and the way you write about this experience speaks to what I’m writing about. I’m also dealing with chronic pain and learning on a personal level how it can shape a body, so your piece speaks to me on that level as well. To us all loving our thighs and the other parts of us that move us through this world!
This is so powerful. I struggled with my body—I should say the image of body—for years. I was thin and terrified of being fat. I couldn’t see myself. There’s still a bit of the anorexic inside but for the most part I see myself clearly. Now I’m struggling a new way, with things that happen as I age and my skin is older. Thank you for this piece.
thinking about my thighs has become so pervasive in my daily life that I truly believe this post would have resonated with me at any age. still, I am so glad I read it when I did. thank you!
so powerful!! I am, of course thanks to the 90s, very self-conscious about my legs BUT everytime I find myself judging them I also acknowledge what they do for me. And it's a lot! Not quite crushing skulls but give me a few tries and who knows! There's a little kid in the family who has barely started comparing herself to others. She was playing on my legs, when I lifted her up just by flexing a knee and she was NOT expecting it. She was very impressed so I told her: do you know how STRONG my legs are? And she liked it so much that she started jumping 'way up high' and showing me how powerful she was. I want to believe I postponed her body-self-consciousness for a little bit. I can't change the world but I can be a positive example.
I am new to your publication and I have loved every piece I read. The feeling you wrote about the bathhouse truly gives us the liberation that we all deserve. It was like you gave us a mental body break alongside your experience. Thank you! ❤️🔥
Gosh this was beautiful to read. It reminded me of my 2 year old whenever I changed her nappy or get her dressed I squish and kiss her thighs because they’re scrumptious. And I make ‘mmmm’ yummy noises while I do it. When she catches my bare thighs when I get out of the shower she rushes over all excited and makes ‘mmmmm’ yummy noises and kisses them and squishes because she thinks that’s what you do when you see thighs. All thighs are lovely and should be treated like a delicious piece of cake.
That’s the sweetest thing she’s doing it back to you 🥹
I love the way this story unfolds to uncover the beauty but also complexity the body can hold, its stories. As someone’s whose body is shaped by chronic pain, I really appreciated reading this.
Thanks for sharing that ❤️🔥
This is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. It is truly inspirational for me, struggling as I have with the changes of a midlife body. I read somewhere recently - or maybe I heard someone say recently - "when I was a child I didn't HAVE a body, I WAS a body." Reading this piece made me think of those words again, that notion that we are not separate from our bodies - viewing them, controlling them, hating them, or loving them. We simply ARE bodies. No distinction. Somehow thinking of myself and my body and one entity feels subversive and liberating. Thanks again for your writing. This was wonderful.
Omg just so so so good - as per usual. Muscle wasting when you’re bed bound is mental and so upsetting! I remember after being bed bound for a year and my knees buckling while walking to the the toilet or the arches of my feet hurting when I was walking round the hospital, my shoulders and back in agony anytime I stood up for more than 1 minute. I dream of getting that thick juicy muscle back. I’ve had people say they’re envious of my sick body because it is thin - it’s super weird. And sometimes even I’m tricked for the tiniest moment, where I see myself the thinnest I’ve ever been and think huh, I look good. But then I remember how much I’d love to run or climb or do a plank or lift something not even that heavy or stand up at a concert or DANCE!!!!!!
Beautiful, Amani. I’m so glad to have read this piece and for whatever piece drew me to your work the first time so I’d be drawn into this one. I’m writing a chapter in a memoir that involves a time at a nudist resort, and the way you write about this experience speaks to what I’m writing about. I’m also dealing with chronic pain and learning on a personal level how it can shape a body, so your piece speaks to me on that level as well. To us all loving our thighs and the other parts of us that move us through this world!
Hey Holly what a cool connection and I really appreciate hearing your own experiences 🖤
This is so powerful. I struggled with my body—I should say the image of body—for years. I was thin and terrified of being fat. I couldn’t see myself. There’s still a bit of the anorexic inside but for the most part I see myself clearly. Now I’m struggling a new way, with things that happen as I age and my skin is older. Thank you for this piece.
thinking about my thighs has become so pervasive in my daily life that I truly believe this post would have resonated with me at any age. still, I am so glad I read it when I did. thank you!
Thank you for this--it is a beautiful, important read.
so powerful!! I am, of course thanks to the 90s, very self-conscious about my legs BUT everytime I find myself judging them I also acknowledge what they do for me. And it's a lot! Not quite crushing skulls but give me a few tries and who knows! There's a little kid in the family who has barely started comparing herself to others. She was playing on my legs, when I lifted her up just by flexing a knee and she was NOT expecting it. She was very impressed so I told her: do you know how STRONG my legs are? And she liked it so much that she started jumping 'way up high' and showing me how powerful she was. I want to believe I postponed her body-self-consciousness for a little bit. I can't change the world but I can be a positive example.
Great stuff :)
thank you for writing this <3
I wish I had the words to say how wonderful this was to read <3
Oof ❤️🔥 this was beautiful. No words
I am new to your publication and I have loved every piece I read. The feeling you wrote about the bathhouse truly gives us the liberation that we all deserve. It was like you gave us a mental body break alongside your experience. Thank you! ❤️🔥
Best piece i read since a long long time
this was such a beautiful read, life drawing has a similar feeling to this