Loving Being a Woman in a World That Teaches You Not To
Do you love your body? Do you love being a woman? Do you love your bleed?
It’s an audacious question, one that forces us to look at how we view ourselves in a world that often teaches us to feel otherwise. Loving our bodies, embracing our womanhood, means going against everything we may have ever known. It means standing out, doing things differently, and navigating a path that feels impossibly hard at times.
How often do you find yourself saying, “Oh no, I got my period,” or feeling inconvenienced when it arrives at an “inopportune” moment? This frustration with our bodies for not performing on a schedule that suits society can leave us disconnected and ungrateful for our bodies and, by extension, our womanhood. It fosters a sense of negativity about what it means to be a woman, as if our natural rhythms are a flaw rather than a strength.
If you are struggling with menstrual health imbalances, PMS, cramps, hormonal imbalances, I ask you to really reflect on these questions. And be honest with yourself: how inconvenienced do you truly feel by being a woman?
But here’s the truth: good health is not something we’re entitled to. It’s not a right we can claim or a commodity we can purchase. It’s something that requires intention, care, and reciprocity. We’re rarely taught this. Instead, we live in a world where we expect health to simply exist for us, without being an active part of the process.
Our bodies hold immense value. As my mum always said, “Without your health, you have nothing.” She was so right! The choices we make every day, what we eat, how we move, how we rest, lay the foundation for everything. These choices shape our digestion, our mental clarity, our hormones, and our overall vitality.
When was the last time you genuinely asked yourself: What am I doing to be well? What choices am I making to support my health? Are they working for me? And perhaps even more importantly: How am I giving back?
Loving your body isn’t just about self-acceptance or body positivity (though those are important, too). It’s about seeing your body as part of something larger, as part of life itself. It’s about honoring it, nourishing it, and recognizing the relationship between you and the world around you.
Good health requires us to give back. To nourish the earth that nourishes us. To rest when our bodies call for it, rather than pushing through in frustration. To embrace the wisdom of our cycles, even when they come at ‘inconvenient’ times.
It’s not easy. In fact, it may be one of the hardest things you’ll ever do, to step away from societal expectations and start listening to your body’s needs, to learn to honour it, and to truly see the gift of womanhood. But it’s also the most liberating.
So, start small. Ask yourself, How can I nourish my body today? How can I be kind to myself? How can I care for all life? And remember, every act of care and gratitude you show your body is a radical, beautiful stand against a world that’s taught you not to.
