It has taken me the better part of my 27 years to be completely honest when I say, "I finally love my body." This year I was diagnosed as celiac and changed my diet, then I had surgery which eliminated much of my source of hatred (nothing abstract - just abdominal troubles) and now that I am no longer racked with pain I can appreciate my body again.

When you love someone, it doesn't mean you're blind to flaws, troubles, discourtesies and imperfections.

I see my surgery scars.
I see my small breasts.
I see where terrible body acne as a teen has left me unable to display my back and shoulders.
I see where I have curves.
I see the little gap in my front teeth.
I see where my skin has stretched.
I see where I would be expected to shave (if anyone dared ask!)
I see where my feet fall a bit funny on the arch.
I see where my spine curves slightly.

But what I really see is a body that, from here on in, won't let me down. I feel it respond better to food and I feel it requesting different nutrients rather than begging me to stop trying to feed it what it can't have. I am very responsive to stimulation - sexual stimulation is an outright pleasure again. I feel pretty when I smile and I don't assume that when someone is looking at me they're feeling disgust or amusement.

This is such a great feeling. I feel so blessed.