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Body Image


Naked bodies. Thank god for those. And No, I am not talking about a surgically enhanced cover of a magazine. Or any add for any make-up or wrinkle cream.. something to to tuck things in, straighten out a wrinkle, a stretch mark. you name it.

I am talking about bodies, Real Bodies. Life.

A few weeks ago my good friend mentioned to me about how thankful she is, and how lucky we are as Finns, to have grown up with nudity, saunas and PE- classes at the local pool- with changing rooms for all the generations.

To from the age of 8 get to see breast thrown up over a shoulder, big granny pants, shower caps and hair in places that Cosmopolitan would not dare to mention it in its newest section on smooth summer skin. That is being lucky. So damn lucky.

We know what real women look like. A body changes with life. Without that change the one inside it would not have fully lived. To see the determined face as she enters the pool. A wrinkled laughter, all parts sagging- slightly loose. She finds happiness in life even when half her circle of friends have past on to the other side. She keeps on living even though her body shows us elderness, the last years- in all its signs.That is strength and beauty alright.

And her image- that, is what we should desire to achieve.

I do not want to be a freaking model. I want to be that Granny. I would be a 85 year old real life rock star for gods sake.

And how about all those other women. Stretch marks. Scars. Uneven breasts. Flat chest. Heavy breasts that require a support bra, back-pain. shaved legs, unshaven legs. 15 sweaty women and girls in a sauna- most of them strangers to each other. That is one big life lecture right there.

Nobody looks like on a cover of a magazine.
So lets stop the act, let us stop trying to achieve that.


And do not get me wrong, I slip once in a while.

I hate my twiggy arms, bulky shoulders and uneven hip (love handles for everybody !).
My body hair is a frequent enemy, alright.

But with the iron ladies of the changing room, I can think more clear.
A valuable life lesson I will forever hold dear.


PE- classes out in the community facilities should be mandatory,
I am sure that most of our young girls self hatred would disappear.





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