Susie Kahlich
Jul 22, 2017 · 1 min read

Thanks, I’m glad it was helpful and could remind you of that link. But I have a problem with the idea of competing against yourself: if you’re hard on yourself, then you always lose that competition. If you’re a bit lazy (like me), then you always win. I was referring more to the idea of measuring yourself against yourself: what can you today that you couldn’t do yesterday, a week ago, a month ago? I enjoy discovering the capabilities of my body, which includes my brain — we have a tendency to separate that vital organ from our physical bodies, but especially in regards to people with different structural definitions and balance (paralyses, MS, etc), as well as the elderly, I think it’s important to understand that the brain really does work in conjunction with the body, is a part of the body, and finds incredible ways to adapt and progress both mentally and physically (Jean-Dominique Bauby comes to mind). I believe we all have the same capacity, but we rarely exercise it, are led to believe that only “special” people can do special things like Bauby, and in this way mistrust our own bodies and fall subject to advertising and all the politics, as you so rightfully point out, around beauty and bodies and potential.

Thank you for the thoughtful article and response. I’ll be following you from now on Medium!

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    Susie Kahlich

    Written by

    Producer and host of the bi-monthly podcast, Artipoeus: Art You Can Hear, and founder of Pretty Deadly Self Defense. www.artipoeus.com / www.prettydeadly.org