I've been thinking quite a lot about my grandmother, given the war in Ukraine. I miss her, and I wish Danny could have known her. She was small (well under five feet) but mighty as any of my friends that were ever hugged and kissed by her will tell you. "Your grandma gives hard kisses." She did. She wanted to hang onto the people she liked because she lost so, so, many. I'm sitting in the United States largely unaffected by this (unless god help us this goes nuclear or NATO gets involved). So now, I'm going to shut up, because I'm American. There are people much closer to this that have more informed things to say about it than a housewife in the American Midwest. I will say that wars are usually the work of powerful people getting masses of civilians killed on both sides. No sane person wants war.
In other news,
I'm taking an Instagram break. This felt like the right time given the state of the world, but it also felt right because I can no longer dress to disguise what's happening to my body. I suppose it was an arbitrary number, but I said if I dropped below 7st I would take a posting break, and that's what I'm doing. I worry about people, especially the young ones that have or are vulnerable to eating disorders. I wouldn't like to see people that look like me on runways or in fashion magazines because it is dangerous to the impressionable, so I won't contribute to that either. No, I'm not a model, but in showing the daily outfits, it IS a form of modelling. I feel like I have a responsibility as an adult on that site (and on tumblr too) not to do anything that might encourage anyone that's needing help. Eating disorders are deadly. My illness isn't an eating disorder of course, but no one knows that watching the images scroll by on the internet. I've been very public about my illness here, which is why I've taken a zero-tolerance approach to blocking people that don't respect that. So far, I've only had to block one person, and it made me sad, but after being corrected several times I can only assume that person is either sick or hostile. Either way, I can no longer permit them to participate on the blog.
I don't know if I will post photos here, where people understand what's going on. I think it is long past being pleasant to see me actually wearing the outfits and I could still show what I wore laid out on the bed before getting dressed. I'll see how it goes. I don't want to upset people, even if they understand what's happening that doesn't mean they necessarily wish to see it. I'm running out of clothes that fit anyway. Might be a good time to photograph my accessories. I've been tired, and getting dressed up posting takes a certain amount of energy too. So we'll see.
Take care, and if you're the praying sort of person praying for peace wouldn't be out of place at this point. It couldn't hurt.
Your reasons for taking a break from modeling are understandable and admirable. And surprising: I confess it had not occurred to me that someone with an eating disorder would be harmed by seeing your success in creating an attractive image. Thanks, Goody, for opening my eyes.
ReplyDeleteI am indeed praying for peace in Ukraine. I'm also praying answers to your complex illness will soon be found. Thank you for sharing that enchanting photo of the elegant, diminutive lady who bequeathed to you mighty genes for surviving with style. If the mood strikes, perhaps you tell us some stories about her...and other memorable women you've met?
My mom's Dutch Mennonite family migrated to the Ukraine in the 1790s. They lived in the Molochna river valley and a great aunt described their lives in Ukraine as blissful - a quote from her diary reads, "Every day was Sunday, and it was always summer." They emigrated to the US to escape Stalin's Holodomor in the 1930s. Ukrainian culture is carried on in Mennonite culture with the adoption on of traditional foods like varenyky, borscht, pflumamoos, Olivier potato salad. Sad to see a beautiful country of rich farmland and strong people continuously beset with political problems. Always wanted to visit Kiev.
ReplyDeleteI will miss seeing your genius thrifted outfits of varying vintages. Do be sure to show us the other treasures you find!
Praying for Ukraine,
Bibi
XOX
lovely photo of your pretty granny!!
ReplyDeletekiew is 1400km or 15h per car away from the BWH........only.
you are a wonderful and wise human!
not everone would be as careful about the content of a media account as you are. i´m totally with you - without the written context a vulnerable person could think its "chic" to be so very thin.
while it is a frightening illness. i´m very hoping the doctors find out whats happening with you and can start a healing therapy!
meanwhile i give you a virtuel, east-european hard hug :-D
xxxxx
Keep well and rested. And eat plenty. My father was In nato as his parents survived Hiroshima. He could be angry at the world but he isn’t . He was a peacekeeper untill he retired. Nato are not evil.
ReplyDeleteOh honey, I've been reading your blog for a VERY long time and enjoyed every word.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd just comment now to try to give something back in the form of a virtual hug. Whatever you decide to do is right, purely because this blog is your space, so own it in whatever way you want.
Vicky.
@Allie Jane
ReplyDeleteI could have worded that better. I don't think NATO are evil. I'm also aware that the US is the only country to use nuclear weapons (twice) one of which your family was on the receiving end of. We haven't really come to terms with that as a country, and that shame hangs over us all.
Your grandma looks like such a sweetie!
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to model your outfits on your blog I think dressing up a dummy if you have one; or laying them out on the bed or floor would work absolutely. And if you want to go down the accessories route I'm all agog! I think it is most thoughtful of you to withdraw from posting outfit photos on IG; I just wish more people would do the same...
I am praying daily for the Ukrainian people and the people of Russia and I'm not even a praying person.
Hope things improve for you health wise.
xxx
I've got total admiration for your courageous granny, and being hugged by her can only have been a true honour.
ReplyDeleteI think your decision is admirable too, although of course I do hope to see you wearing your wonderful outfits again soon, as that would mean you are on the mend. Obviously, I'd love seeing your accessories or whatever you want to show us on your blog, but I'd be just as happy with words only!
Sending hugs and endless healing vibes! xxx
Your Blog is Your blog the same goes for IG . Not mine or anyone else's. It must take a lot of work to create all that goes into it. Do what you get satisfaction from, feel good about, or have energy to do and forget the rest. We are your guests here and must respect that. I must say personally I have gotten much inspiration from your posts, insight into a broader world view and of course some just plain fun.
ReplyDeleteBest Wishes always,
Gail From PA.
Your grandma sounds like a really cool lady! The world needs more hard huggers like her.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy seeing pictures of you and your vintage finds. I understand if you want to take a break for now, but please don't feel that you have inadvertently set a bad example for impressionable young people just because you have lost so much weight and continued to post pics on Instagram until now.
Here's the flipside of your situation.... The other day I read a post on Reddit or Quora where someone was having a meltdown because they disagreed with the cultural movement toward fat acceptance. They thought it was horrible for obese people to flaunt their bodies on magazine covers and on social media because this will cause impressionable people to lose all their motivation to lose weight.
I was able to follow this person's logic, but I couldn't agree with it because this is basically telling people that it's not okay to be photographed once you're above a certain weight because, heaven forbid, this might onlookers to accept the existence of fat. I happen to believe that anybody and everybody has the right to appear in a photo, whether it's a 300-pound woman or a 95-pound woman. Nobody should be made to feel like they're too fat or too thin to be photographed, and nobody should feel responsible for other people's reactions to a photo.
Your friends love you as you are, and we just want you to be happy. We're going to be here for you, no matter what you weigh.
Sending you a bear hug over the Internet....
I like the way you write and your humor. The outfits were just a bonus. This is your space to do what you wish, so I hope you have fun!
ReplyDeleteTotally understand that you take a break, it's your blog and you can do whatever you feel like doing!. Social media can be really exhausting anyway. And I admire your reasons to quit IG, a really sensible attitude.
ReplyDeleteEven if I'm going to miss you, I think that you have to take care of Yourself First!. Hope you feel better soon!
Also admire your grandma's strong hugs. Mine was a squeezing-type of grandma and still miss her (even if she was also suspicious, stingy and a hoarder, probably because living through the rationing times! and a 40 years dictatorship!). Hurrah for our grannies!
besos
That's a wonderful photo of your Grandma.
ReplyDeleteI love what anonymous says, your writing is fabulous and the outfits are a bonus, do whatever feels right for you, I'm behind you all the way. xxx
I have a lot of Ukrainian friends and coworkers - it's been hard for them. I try to just let them know I'm here, and an ally.
ReplyDeleteAs many others have said, it's your blog, do what you want. Leading by example is a good thing - I used to be quite a lot heavier (I lost 50 lbs - on purpose - about 15 years ago) and used to be ashamed to be photographed. I've come to a place of acceptance with my size (middlin') and gravity (a bitch) and age (inexorable).
I very much enjoy your clothes and accessories, but don't need to see them on you (maybe a link to a previous outfit?) if you aren't comfortable. Just as a fan of vintage and "label porn."
Sending you good vibes. :)
It sounds like you could do with a good break and putting yourself first for a bit, and maybe conserve some of your energy. I hope you're still able to take joy in your clothes and accessories - and that you'll find even more joy in them as you get better and are able to rediscover old favourites once more.
ReplyDelete@Mim
ReplyDeleteI've been living in leggings and tee shirts, but they're really cool ones. I'm wearing a dinosaur tee today with those sequins you can flip up and down to change colour-so that's fun.
My full-time job right now is eating, which was complicated by this awful cold killing my appetite and sense of taste.
I hope you are feeling better too!
Hey Goody! I was worried on IG about your weight loss but didn’t want to pry, didn’t see much about your health and was unsure. Will have to read more here to understand but in the meantime sending much love ❤️
ReplyDelete