17 Comments

You have such a powerful voice. I felt this one deeply, Haley. I feel like I’m constantly in a conversation with my body and I just want to tell her “girl, hush, you’re golden.” Thank you for your beautiful words.

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May 26, 2023Liked by Haley Brengartner

Powerful. Your words allow me to see. Words allow me to see the women who were training in the gym with you that day.

And. Your words show me everything the mirror can’t see: Your strength. Your vulnerability. Your resilience. Your heart. Where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going. The heart sees what the eyes cannot.

Thank you, Haley.

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May 26, 2023Liked by Haley Brengartner

Haley, this is such a tough topic to deal with, let alone write about. The fact that you have the courage to even confront it, let alone write and then publish it, is worthy of a giant applause. Dunno if you can hear me clapping from here. I am a BIG believer in accepting ourselves for who we are and seeing beauty in ourselves. A lot of my work (people photography) is dedicated to this one maxim.

This post is doubly powerful because of how poetic and metaphorical this piece is. I mean, I've saved so many quotes from this. I'm just going to highlight on here.

" Fire with the power to destroy that chooses instead to warm cold spaces, cold hands, cold hearts. I wish to see myself for the depth of my heart, the vastness of my curiosity, the strength of my arms and legs, the capacity of my mind, and the goodness that stitches together the thread of my being.

There is no beauty standard, there is just beauty. It lives within all of us."

I'm not even going to ask you for permission to use your quote in one of my next issues. I just have to. It is TOO beautiful.

This is the best piece of yours (or anyone's) I've read in a while, and we just finished WOP so...

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“I am so tired of being so judgmental of the body that allows me to do so much.”

Whew. I have to remind myself of this often. Especially when I tell myself that this same body brought my 3 children into the world. It is hard to remember though.

Thank you for sharing this cutting, honest, vulnerable reflection, Haley. It is hard not to listen to that mirror voice. You are brave enough to confront her and to reduce her power by sharing the false voice of your harsh critic. I commend and applaud you for it.

Your transition and search in other means of testing and strengthening your body is a testament to your courage and resilience.

Thank you for sharing.

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Superb! I love the imagery and the poem. I’ve shared this with many today.

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May 26, 2023Liked by Haley Brengartner

Great work getting this to publish Haley. This is a brave, poignant and beautiful piece.

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Thanks for writing this, Haley. I have a young daughter who is in gymnastics and ballet, and I am constantly worried that the pressure to look perfect in competition will have lasting effects on how she perceives herself.

It takes a lot of courage to tackle a topic like this. Kudos to you for having it.

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Haley, your voice strikes right to my heart. It's strange that someone I shared the class with can write pieces with so much energy.

When I read it, I felt that you pinpointed a pain I had for most of my life but could not quite grasp it. It's not only the body shape. We are constantly judged for everything we are - our bodies, habits, work performance, clothes, houses, kids, life partners, etc.

Your essay is a manifesto for reclaiming our sense of value from oppressive judges. Thank you for that!

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I liked this but forgot to comment! This was moving and sad. Though I think of writers as truth-tellers and I'm really proud that you are telling your truth and you are actively challenging your relationship with mirrors. May that serve as a mirror to others and show them how much power there is in loving our bodies. Kudos Haley!

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Haley this made me cry. I’ve had body dysphoria and been in a fat body almost all my life. For years I chose to torture myself with images from the 1 year I was thin. I’ve only just learned to embrace what I see in the mirror.

That bit on how your body has always done what you asked from it was all the feels. I think of all the stuff my body does for me and I’m in awe.

Thank you for this. And let’s all throw away our mirrors

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founding

“I am enraged for hating the body I have been miraculously gifted.” Followed up by your stand for loving your body.

Nice work Haley ❤️.

I hated mine too, from about age 10 to 50. Whenever anyone complimented me, told me I was handsome, etc I would always dismiss it because it didn’t fit my poor self image.

I’m deeply happy for you that you’ve had this epiphany at such a young age.

Last, I deeply honor your vulnerability. It’s inspiring. Let the world in to love you too!

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