Many
people might not know this about me, but I love marathons. And every race I
enter I’m always delighted to see all the different shapes and sizes of people
who run.  The best thing about races is
that everyone is proud of who they are and what they’ve accomplished to get
there. There is no judgment at all. 
People are free, and you could feel it. 
This had me thinking…why aren’t people like this every day? Why is it
that people feel the need to judge our bodies and mask it with insecurities?
Why do people feel unaccepted if they don’t have the ‘ideal’ shape?  Something’s not right!

That
led me into coordinating the Provincial Eating Disorder Awareness (PEDAW) campaign,
which is launched every February with activities and events taking place
throughout the year.  Our ongoing theme
is ‘Love Our Bodies, Love Ourselves’ with a new subtheme ‘Perfect is Boring.’
It is a Province wide effort to raise awareness around prevention and early
intervention of eating disorders as well as media literacy, resiliency,
building healthy body image and self-esteem. Our mission is to provide an
eating disorder prevention approach and resiliency based system of services,
workshops, education, and support to people of all ages in the Province of B.C.! 

I
challenge you, starting today, to try taking off your mask. Show yourself to
the world and start loving yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally. You
have nothing to lose! Be that confident, fun-loving, awesome person that you
are! Fill in the rest of “I am” with a positive thing about yourself. Things
you love about who you are.  What’s the point of living this life without
being able to love our own bodies?

To me, loving my body means:

• Not
  allowing numbers like size or weight set my self-worth
• Feeding
  it nutrients
• Listening
  to when it’s hungry, full, tired, etc.
• Moving
  it with fun physical activities that are either heart-pumping or relaxing
• Pampering
  it!
• Getting
  enough sleep
• Putting
  it in clothes that feel good
• Being
  grateful for what my body does for me on a regular basis
• NEVER
  criticizing it
• Seeing
  the doctor regularly

I hope you will take part
in supporting PEDAW in encouraging everybody to love our bodies, love
ourselves! And remember for this year, that ‘PERFECT IS BORING!’

Opportunities
for you to get involved:

• A speaker is available to schools in the
  lower mainland area presenting on eating disorders, disordered eating,
  self-esteem, resiliency and body image (for grades 6/7 – grade 12).
• There are free ‘Love our bodies, Love ourselves’ wristbands for residents of
  BC (quantities are limited, first come, first served) 
• ‘Like’ us on Facebook on the official Love Our Bodies, Love Ourselves page:
  every day we post positive messages, affirmations, quotes, articles, etc.
  promoting a positive body image and healthy self-esteem 
• Participate in the flash mob contest and bring awareness to the public on how
  to Love Our Bodies, Love Ourselves. Entry deadline is May 1st, 2013. Prizes to
  be won!

To
book a speaker/order wristband/find out more info about events/participate in
the flashmob, email us: pedaw@mail.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/loveourbodiesloveourselves
TWITTER: @loveourbodies
BLOG: www.loveourbodiesloveourselves.blogspot.ca
YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/user/loveourbodies
WEBSITE: www.familyservices.bc.ca/professionals-a-educators/jessies-legacy/provin…