Comments on: Alive

By: holly

holly — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:40:11 +0000

I didn’t get to see the picture, but I know what you mean about self-image problems, well, I don’t have a disability, so I guess I can just relate about being uncomfortable in my own skin. I am doing a flickr project I call “Positive Body Image” and I photograph a part of my body that I like and I don’t like and I just list all the things I am grateful for about that body part. It’s helped me immensely and I am feeling much more confident about myself now. I’m glad you found a way to be comfortable with yourself.

By: lynn

lynn — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:34:23 +0000

Wow! I am choked up reading this…the sadness I feel is for the kid you, who felt you had to stay covered up all those years…I am so happy for you, that on this day you let yourself feel safe enough to bare your body and get comfortable with it…for all the world to see. And the sky did not fall in. And no one gave you anything but a pleasant smile or nod or small talk…just like NORMAL!!!!!!!!! You are a beautiful being, Sylvain…or maybe handsome is a better adjective of a guy…I am going to really step out on a limb here now and tell you that your voice is also VERY sexy…I really liked hearing it as you calmly talked to me over the cell, as we were lost and tired trying to find our way to your house. But the whole bundle that is you, inside and out, is a throughally delightful goodlooking wonderful person. I hope YOU know that now too.
Thanks for sharing so much here, and in person, it was such a joy to meet you in person!!!!!!!!!!!!1

By: Melle

Melle — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 22:52:11 +0000

Amazing how iron-clad internalized labels like “disability” and “fat girl” are. How rigidly they shape our views and actions. How ridiculous they look when you get the balls to write them down. And how trivial they seem to pretty much everyone else.

I stayed covered up like an Old Order Mennonite until I moved to Australia. Then I learned what 40C with near-100% humidity felt like, and I stopped giving a damn. (Which is saying something in a country full of tall, bronzed, ridiculously good looking people…)

Here’s to endless sun and wind on your skin. But get some damned sunscreen, man!

By: Rick

Rick — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:56:18 +0000

Good going, Syl!

I had to laugh when you mentioned the ‘red as a lobster’ part–as soon as you started talking about taking your shirt off for the first time in a very great while, my first thought was, “Uh, oh. Sunburn.”

Then, again, that’s an experience you may not have had in a long time, either!

It’s great that everyone you ran across was so accepting of the ‘no big deal’ action you had taken. Obviously, the heat had to be a great motivator.

It has long been true that we would spend far less time worrying what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do.

By: Olivia

Olivia — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:35:59 +0000

What a powerful post, Sylvain! In the picture you look like you and you look free!! I am going to share this with LoveHubbie…he is very handsome as well, but self-conscious about his looks now at mid-life as he used to be an athlete. Sometimes I get very angry at our culture that gives us so many bizarre messages. I am so happy for you!! Peace and love and increasing freedom, O xxoo

By: Kitty

Kitty — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 02:44:36 +0000

You are free – and you look beautiful!

(oh and do share how many people checked your blog out today! I think 2 of the popular kids linked you in. Heck – I may even mention this post in my blog. it makes me want to skinny dip….stretch marks and floaty boobs and all!!!)

By: miserablebliss... · Damned Heat.

miserablebliss... · Damned Heat. — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:52:52 +0000

[...] of hot and (half-)naked you should pop over and visit Sylvain. [...]

By: ~~Melissa

~~Melissa — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:42:49 +0000

Liberation! Wonderful.
I have shared this struggle.
Random offerings that have helped me (love and humour required):
-Once at a beach, an older woman told me, it all shrivels up anyways, so start being the soul in the body now instead of by force later. “It is what it is. You’ve got what you’ve got, but it isn’t YOU.”
-A Buddhist monk told me poor self-image is vanity and ego, not insecurity. I then understood that I was placing so much value on external beauty and burning daylight wishing my body would conform to someone else’s genetic code. My personal test of success now is to gauage my inner peace regardless of compliments or insults.
Happiness and cool summer days to you!

By: Elspeth

Elspeth — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:55:25 +0000

That’s great. Something so simple can really free us from decades of ’self-imprisonment’.

By: Breathing Day 222 «

Breathing Day 222 « — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:04:21 +0000

[...] Today Sylvain and I went to our favourite nature area. I read a few more chapters in a most wonderful novel and he… well… did THIS! [...]