Word of the Week

Consider this...

I’ve always considered hope to be prayer without direction, and studies show a great psychological and even physiological value in prayer. For instance, those who believe that God will heal them are more likely to be affected positively by medicine, partly due to the placebo effect (the psychological benefit) and partly due to an opening of the receptors in the brain in anticipation of being healed (the physiological benefit). But prayer - with all its baggage and implications - isn’t for everyone. Hope, on the other hand, is, and in my estimation it provides pretty comparable benefits on the ground, whatever your thoughts about the afterlife.

Here are some of the things I hope for:

- Health for members of my family (and with a recent discovery of breast cancer, some of them aren’t doing so great right now)
- Happiness for my loved ones and for people whom I don’t know yet
- The flourishing of the Fat Acceptance movement
- The adoption of HAES principles and policies by our government and medical establishment
- Anti-discrimination legislation that applies to the categories of height and weight
- Personal success and happiness in order to create the best possible environment in which to raise a family

On a day to day basis I end up hoping for a lot more things. For instance, during football season (and particularly on Sundays), I expend a lot of hope on the success of the Falcons. Like Falcons Fever, there are some things on my list that I can affect with less impact than others. However, my feelings of hope, when expressed towards others, can serve as motivation for them to do what they can.

Take the Fat Acceptance movement, for instance. Its success is largely out of my hands. Indeed, it’s largely out of the hands of any one individual. However, by hoping for the success of the Fat Acceptance movement, I do my part to help it. I speak of it to most people that I meet. I throw my support behind others in the movement to inspire them to do the work they’re doing. I also work on More of Me to Love to assist individuals in their own self-acceptance journeys. Why? Because a critical component of any movement is the preparedness of the individuals whom it represents.

Thus, I hope for an openness in the Fat Acceptance movement whereby members don’t lose sight of the importance of welcoming others and preparing them for the continued struggle that is to come. I hope for a movement that remains tolerant of the diversity of thought and opinion amongst its members so that no one is left out who needs exactly what the movement is offering. Most of all, I hope for the success of the movement as it seeks to eradicate the dual-headed demons of self-hatred and fat-hatred that plague our society.

Hope is more than a fleeting thought with no effect. Hope is the beginning of action, of accomplishment and of success. Next time you hope for something, don’t hope that the something will magically actualize. Embrace that feeling of hope and let it be your inspiration for a better tomorrow - for you and for all of us.

Enjoy some of the experts’ tips this week.