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Doing my balancing stick pose (Tulandasana)
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This week, I am happy to be speaking about the BODY and why we love it. Many of us have a love/hate relationship with our own bodies based on age, weight increase or decrease, health issues, diseases and dis-eases, mood, and more. Let's face it, no matter how beautiful your body is, there has been at least ONE time in your life when you felt a little hate for it, right? Maybe you were a week before your period (ladies), and the bloating just got on your last nerves. Maybe you had a severe acne breakout and you did not feel so beautiful because you were seeing more bumps or dark spots than your normal skin tone. Maybe you were pregnant and felt very fat and un-sexy because you lost your sex drive and/or was too tired to get in the mood. Let's not leave the men out -- maybe you got a little richer and started over-indulging on those beers and then you looked like you were five months pregnant and you saw another guy with a 6-pack. Maybe you were going through a low period in your life and started abusing your body with alcohol, drugs, over-eating, etc. And since men have two heads, maybe your lower head was going through a "slow period" and you felt a little insecure. Almost all of us have seen someone with an unbelievably incredible body and felt a tad insecure about our own body...it happens. I could go on and on, but I am sure you have been there (at least once in your lifetime). In all honesty, it is pretty normal to have that on and off feeling about our bodies, and when it comes to body consciousness, we are our worst critic. It does not matter who is telling you how great your body is...if you feel (at that time) that your body is not beautiful, they may as well be speaking to a wall. Put those instances and nuances aside, can you really say "I LOVE MY BODY" and mean it?
For me, loving my own body came with loving and accepting myself from a very early age. I grew up on the skinny side and inherited small wrists and calves (and the slimmer genes) from my father's side of the family. When everyone in my neighborhood used to tell me that I am walking on my hands because my calves were noticeably slim (not because I was literally walking on my hands), I just smiled and said "Galang bout yuh bizniz and leff mi cyaaf dem. Betta cyaaf dan cow." Even now when folks tell me "Oh My God, your wrists are sooooo small," I just smile and tell them to buy me custom-made bracelets. When fat or big-boned girls tell me how skinny I am (because they are looking company), I tell them that at least I can touch my toes and don't have to worry about obesity. And these days, when I am getting more mature and seeing very visible changes in and on my body, I just say "WOW" and keep it moving. You see, I have more appreciation for my body now than I ever did, and I have always loved my body. I have taken care of it over the years and I know that my body is healthy, fit and beautiful. I have always been very flexible but have traded in the cartwheels, hand-stands, back flips and walking on my hands because with age comes
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2011 Love Your Body Poster Winner
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timidity. These days, I push myself by trying to master yoga postures and by staying active. I get a kick out of it when I prove that I am fitter than many decades younger than me. I really get a thrill when I pass myself in the mirror and smile because I love my reflection.
As a female, you will either move from having a coca-cola bottled shape to becoming more of a pear or God forbid, an apple if you do not take care of your body. As a male, you will most likely start looking like your pregnant wife if you are not careful. In an age where the images that our children are seeing in the media are so air-brushed, augmented, lifted, lipo-sucked out (new word alert!) we have to start teaching them to love, respect and accept their God-given bodies. As parents, we also have to lead by example and we have to feed them right. Childhood obesity has been on the rise for many years now, but THAT is another topic.
A beautiful body does increase self-confidence. Feeling good about your body is a great way to start feeling good about your overall self. You do have the power to change your body. If you are not loving YOUR body, start doing whatever it takes to get it beautiful so you can start loving it and then you some more.
Last week, I asked a number of women (and I chose women because we are more body-conscious) to send me one sentence saying why they love their bodies so please scroll down to see what many had to say. I got so many responses and photos that I had to create a special place for all the beautiful women who sent them to me.
Cheers to loving our bodies,
Yaa Gyasi Peppy Parke Creative Director Peppy Entertainment & Promotions
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We are now at pepisode #5 in Season 2 of PEP Talk! and we are still relying on you to get this show out to more people. We already have TV land covered via CaribVision and DCTV (more channels to be added), but since everyone can watch via a computer and internet connection, we want YOU to send this to your network...please.You can share via your social network, via email, via text, via telephone, via snail mail, via telegram...u got it? Cool. If you would like to sponsor, click HERE.
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Season 2, pepisode 5 with Kwame McPherson
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"Kwame is an inspiration and you made that outfit look real good:)
Bless..." Ras ArIEL, Ghana "Peppy, what a beautiful, humble and inspiring man that Kwame is. He is very special and his pieces are very afro-centric. I would love to meet him soon. Great interview." Sharon Moss, PA
Tune in tomorrow, Thursday, October 20 from 9pm to 10pm EST on harambeeradio.com to PEP Talk! Radio to hear interviews with actress and humanitarian, SHAUNA CHIN and Sierra Leone born, VA-based, reggae singer/songwriter, JAY ARR.
 The Caribbean is famous for giving birth to a melting pot of cultures, talents and a myriad of stars. So it should come as no surprise to witness the rising star ofJamaican-born Shauna Chin in the galaxy of actresses to watch. Shauna has made the transition from nursing into the glitzy world of entertainment, and has hit the proverbial ground running.
The budding actress is set to grace the silver screen in the upcoming action film "Spychosis", playing the role of assassin Victoria Bain sent to kill the lead character, played by Hollywood veteran Tom Arnold of "True Lies" and many other film credits. She recently wrapped her fourth season with acclaimed caribbean film director Lennie Little-White in the caribbean soap opera "The Blackburns of Royal Palm Estates" playing the virginal lawyer Claudine and the featurette "Choices" produced by Swimming Wings Productions, where she played the role closest to home as an ER nurse.
A striking beauty in her own right, she never passes up an opportunity to give back, and during her recent but eventful emergence onto the scene, the energetic upcoming star is also a dedicated Humanitarian. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Irvin "Carrot" Jarrett Philanthropic group that aides and adopts Children's Orphanages in Kenya. She supports intimately the Non-Profit Organizations 'Boys of Destiny' and 'Save Our Boys Lives' whose mandate is to keep young males off the streets of Jamaica. Additionally, Shauna works with the Leon Sullivan Foundation that facilitates improving relations in tourism and economic trade with the African continent. The actress travels with the Foundation to African countries where they provide hands-on care and mentorship.
READ MORE at www.shaunachin.com and tune in tomorrow night on PEP Talk Radio to hear from Shauna herself. 
JayArr is a reggae singer/songwriter born in Sierra Leone and has been residing in the US since 1989. While attending high school in Silver Spring MD, he joined a reggae band where he honed his skills. During a vacation to Sierra Leone in 2004, JayArr recorded two songs "Rise Up Salone" and "Gonna Miss You" featuring the Jungle Leaders, a talented group of guys with conscious reggae vibes. These two songs were featured on Jungle Leader's "Same Soup" Album released in 2005. JayArr then went on to record "Back Stabber" featuring Jungle Leaders' own Funky Freddy - a song inspired by his struggle with dealing with disappointments from his trusted and close friends. JayArr has performed at sold out venues in Sierra Leone, the UK and in the USA. He released his new album "Here 2 Stay" to a sold out audience in one of Washington DC's premiere night clubs, Zanzibar on The Waterfront on 28 March 2009. JayArr performed with Maxi Priest and Beniton the Menace at the same venue to a sold out audience on Oct. 3, 2009. JayArr also performed with the late Gregory Isaacs on July 3, 2010 at Zanzibar on The Waterfront.
JayArr's debut album "Born Sierra Leonean" has sold over 10,000 copies through his self managed production and distribution company LYOA Incorporated. Songs on the album, Born Sierra Leonean, relay messages relating to the 10 years of political strife and brutality endured by Sierra Leoneans and also focuses on the continual corrupt practices of the powers that be, lending to the ominous sufferings of innocent men, women and children in Sierra Leone. His 3rd album "African Child" is printed, packaged and ready to be released on October 21 2011 at his album release party. The album features the singles "Rumors featuring Funky Freddy," "Secret Lover" featuring Angie Morrison, "I Really Love U," a remake of Bunny Mack's smashing hit in the 60's and 70's, featuring the legend himself Bunny Mack, and of course the album title "African Child."
Other Albums are Born Sierra Leonean (2006) and Here 2 Stay (2009.
READ MORE at www.jayarr.com and/or tune in tomorrow night to hear Jay Arr's interview and some of his music on PEP Talk Radio.
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I LOVE MY BODY BECAUSE...
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"I love my body because it has taken a beating and it is still ticking and every scar is a reminder of a battle won!"
Helen Morgan, FL
"I love my body because it is beautiful and it always whispers to me when it feels something just isn't right."
Melrose Parks, Canada "I love my body because it is invaluable and because it is the most powerful tool-instrument created for the universal purpose of mankind, it is multi faceted and reflects the beauty and creative mind of the Master builder."
Anonymous, MD
"I love my body because it has its own unique way of moving with this fluidity that is quirky and clumsy, yet graceful and sensual that defines who I am and nobody else."
Shauna Chin, CA
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Rose Anugah
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"I love my body because it is exceptional, and its only me who have this exceptional black beauty body."
Rose Anugah, Ghana "I love my body because at the moment, I can eat whatever I want and not have to work out." Jacqueline Hall, Maryland
"I love my body because it's the only one I have thru good and bad times. We work well together."
Claudette Henry, MD"I've come to love my body more and more as I age because God made it perfect the way it is and I accept it."
Keisha Largie, MD
"I'm blessed with curves, cushion and handles of love, so I feel sultry, juicy and free at 42 -- to just be me!"
Karen Jones, DC
"I love my body because although I have small curves, it reminds me of the beautiful genes I endure from my family." Shauna Anderson, MD
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Ethlyn Grant
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"I love my body because it is a reflection of God's magnificent creation and it is the only one that I will ever have."
Ethlyn Grant, MD
"I love my body because it is the core of my everything without this beautiful gift from God nothing would be possible."
Judith Buckley, Canada
"I love my body because the Lord has his spirit all inside of me. It's the only one I have, it's mine. Thank you Lord for giving me a healthy body."
Justina Wilkins, DC
"I love my body because even though some may see its imperfections, it was perfectly made in God's sight." Nicole Wright, MD
"I love my body because it represents my roots." Chardelle Moore, MD
"I love my body because it represents, my beautiful brain, my source of passions, emotions, laughter, pain, creativity, and memories."
Taishi Hyatt, VA
"I love my body because I love me; I stand for me and no one else can give account for me but me. I love myself and my body always." Andrea Miller, Jamaica "I love my body because I got the tools and will power to change it!!" Dolly Riley, MD |
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