I'm sharing this email with all of you because, well, Ashley said I could share it. Her email really touched me. Some days, I will admit, I wonder if I am truly reaching the audience that I hope to reach with Nakedjen. Yes, this is a blog about me. Yes this is a blog about my life. Yes, I drone on and on about my dogs and their trials and tribulations. And I also talk a lot about my marriage to DearSweetDave and the trials and tribulations of that, as well. Of course, I also mutter about the environment quite a bit and you often hear speaking for the trees. Or even encouraging you to eat an organic diet and to walk more than you drive. All of these things are quite true.
But the reason I started writing Nakedjen, the reason I get naked and share the photos of myself on line, is because I want all of us to appreciate the bodies that we have. To love ourselves. Just the way that we are. All bodies are beautiful. Our media will have us believe otherwise, as many of us who pick up any big fat glossy magazine these days can attest.
I have already applauded Dove on this blog for being bold enough to feature women of all body types in their advertisements. I will also admit that when I saw their advertisement featuring these women on television recently I was actually shocked. It took me a minute to actually believe my eyes. Yes, I was thrilled to see all those different and beautiful body types. But I was so entranced with what I was seeing I couldn't begin to tell you what product they were selling. I am hopeful that other companies will follow Dove's lead and start using real women in their advertising, as well. But then we all know that I am also an eternal optimist.
But enough about me. Let me share with you Ashley's very kind email. In her brief visit to Nakedjen, she really got what I am all about. I love that I was able to touch her life in such a special way. And I hope that for many of you, I'm touching your lives, too.
Hi! My name is Ashley, and I'm a 19 year old female. I occasionally spend way too many long hours 'stumbling' online (terrific, by the way) and came across your page just today. I wanted to send you an email just to let you know that you are a huge inspiration to me.
I have had alot of problems with my body, and accepting myself for who I am. I have never been overweight or obese by any means, I'm 5'6 and 149 lbs, but when you see so many tiny, skinny little supermodels, one begins to doubt themselves. I had tried dieting, was up and down, trying billions of weight loss tricks, and nothing worked. So discouraging. Soon after, it started to affect how I took care of myself, and even my sex drive! The idea of beauty society has created for my generation is, in general, disgusting. Once I had that distorted image in my head, not even my fiance saying "you look great!" could change my mind. Sad thing is, I know I'm not the only one.
Your site really helped me to realize how to appreciate my body. REAL women don't get their freckles airbrushed out in pictures, and our boobs don't always look fake! REAL women have curves, and sometimes, REAL women's clothes cut in or just don't fit right. REAL women have bad hair days, and REAL women don't have personal make-up artists (sigh...). And the one thing that I know now (that I want to kick myself for not seeing), is that REAL women aren't computerized!!!!
Thank you so much!! You have changed my entire outlook an life and the way I view myself as a woman. Feel free to use my email, or post it, or whatever, I just think that the world needs more people like you to get the word out there!!!!
-Ashley Nicole
Happy Naked Friday, everyone. Get naked. Spend some time loving the beautiful you that you are.
