I’m in Love with the Shape of You,
Although my Heart is Falling too,
I’m in Love with Your Body !!!

 

Like it or not, popular culture bombards you from all directions and you are left with not much of a choice, but be impacted by it !! I am sure most of you must be familiar with this song by Ed Sheeran, that did the rounds, all over social media, with sooooooooo many cover versions, to add to its glory!! Even though one might say, it is just entertainment and hence should not be taken seriously, hearing a ten year old, repeat these words or listen to this song, mindlessly over and over again, is not a very comfortable thought! Simply because, I strongly believe that every word has its own power and can leave strong impressions in one’s mind, subconsciously!

There must be a reason, why our scriptures say that one should try to see, hear and speak good things, at all times! Cos all those things help define you as an individual, and shapes your personality! So you are in love with someone’s shape and though you think your heart is falling too, you are in love with her body! Now, this made me wonder, as to what would happen if the shape of that body changed?

Well as mother of two, having gone through the various stages of being a woman, you can never deny that a woman’s body has to keep changing, in the natural scheme of things! That’s how it is! The woman’s body has a mind of its own, at various stages! Imagine how insecure a woman or girl could feel, if popular culture keeps reiterating the importance of shape of her body, which she can never totally be in control of! How can she ever be at peace about her changing body shapes in the midst of such strong social notions?

I remember, when in college, I used to eat from so many lunch boxes and pretty much look like Kungfu Panda and roam around happily with no problems of shape, whatsoever !! Certainly much less bombarded by media and social sites, that keep defining your ideas of beauty, feminism and success!

Feel fortunate to have grown up in a rather carefree environment, that let me be ME ! No pressures to fall in line with anything much in terms of popular trends or cultures! Guess at times not being exposed may also be a great blessing! Cos, you don’t seek out, and hence its easier to be within, essentially, the essence of all spiritual practices!

Joy of Simple Living

Well well well, what I am trying to say is that while one can’t negate the impact of popular culture, one can certainly make a choice about whether or not, you want to be impacted further, by the same! That definitely is in our hands! Cos, while repeating God’s names or mantras, or contemplating on good things can help empty your mind and prepare you for a greater commune with the divine, not so good words and disturbing thoughts could leave an irreparable mark on your psyche and take away the joy of simple living!

 We are much more than this body and mind! In fact, we are not the body or mind! Therein abides our true self! Life is the greatest celebration! Every”body” is to be celebrated, shape, or no shape :))

Love,

Anuradha Sriram