LOOK AFTER YOUR BREASTS

Girls you need to look after your girls, and check them regularly. There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts. But it is important to know how your breasts usually look and feel.

Get used to how your breasts feel at different times of the month. This can change during your menstrual cycle. For example, some women have tender and lumpy breasts, especially near the armpit, around the time of their period.

• know what's normal for you
• look at your breasts and feel them
• know what changes to look for
• report any changes without delay
• attend routine screening if you're 50 or over

Look at your breasts and feel each breast and armpit, and up to your collarbone. You may find it easiest to do this in the shower or bath, by running a soapy hand over each breast and up under each armpit.

You can also look at your breasts in the mirror. Look with your arms by your side and also with them raised.

Breast changes to look out for

See your GP if you notice any of the following changes:

• a change in the size, outline or shape of your breast
• a change in the look or feel of your skin, such as puckering or dimpling
• a new lump, thickening or bumpy area in one breast or armpit that is different from the same area on the other side
• nipple discharge that's not milky
• bleeding from your nipple
• a moist, red area on your nipple that doesn't heal easily
• any change in nipple position, such as your nipple being pulled in or pointing differently
• a rash on or around your nipple
• any discomfort or pain in one breast, particularly if it's a new pain and doesn't go away (although pain is only a symptom of breast cancer in rare cases)

Trust me this is important.

HOW DO YOU ACCEPT A COMPLIMENT?

Am I the only one who finds it hard to personally accept compliments? And how do you possibly talk about them without sound like a, well a conceited wank?

But, since I have talked about negative feedback and reactions from others, I thought I should talk about how there are people, out there who can be super nice, who give compliments.

There is a girl a work who is lovely to everyone. Said my hair looked like a beautiful mermaid. She is positive about so much and towards so many people.

Then on Monday I took Jarvis to Wet & Wild on the coast. Yup got this 47 year old unfit white body out in a bikini. Sometimes the thought crosses my mind that maybe I should cover up more because of my age. But then I go and play with Jarvis and forget about body issues.

Long story, but was chatting to another Mum while our kids played together in the water. She asked if I had adopted Jarvis. When I said no, her response... "No way, your body does not look like it has ever been pregnant or given birth". When I told her Jarvis was my second, plus I was a grandmother, she then asked/stated "wow you must spend so much time at the gym to have such a great body".

Wasn't sure how to tell her I never exercise. Plus I got all uncomfortable with her compliments. My first response was to argue, "my body is not that good", "I am old", "I have lumps and bumps" and so on. Rather to say thank you. My instinct was to deny. 

Am I the only one who has not learnt/been taught how to accept a compliment?

What do you do?

Do you mumble like an idiot like I do? 

On a side note: The image has nothing to do with the post. I just like this shot of Justin and I done together, and I do not think I have ever shared how amazing they all are. Took my ages to pick just this one. And no we are not nude, this image just makes us look like we both were. Though I did make Justin take his shirt off. Yep, I do enjoy a good perv on my partner. 

AGEISM AND AN AGEING ME

A while back, well it seems like ages ago, I wrote a couple of posts about Comments on My Appearance, and How Old is Too Old? At the same time I wrote about how I feel the world has become so ageist and youth culture seems supreme. Various popular media outlets regularly bombard our already increasingly self-centered, youth-obsessed culture with negative messages about aging and the aged. As a woman closer, and closer to fifty I question my worth as a woman. As an 'older woman'.

I went back to edit it, but then I read the below quote from Annie Lennox, and I think her words cover it exactly how I wanted.

"There's this youth culture that is really, really powerful and really, really strong, but what it does is it really discards people once they reach a certain age. I actually think that people are so powerful and interesting - women, especially - when they reach my age. We've got so much to say, but popular culture is so reductive that we just talk about whether we've got wrinkles, or whether we've put on weight or lost weight, or whether we've changed our hair style. I just find that so shallow."–Annie Lennox, who turned 60 in late December 2014

For 2015 can we not just empower other women instead of knocking them down? 


Note: Image not mine, obtained via Google Images. Trying to track original source. 

HAVE YOU EATEN SOMETHING?

Okay, so this image may be funny to some, but growing up this was my reality, only change the text to 1950s. I am pretty sure Mum has not eaten much since then. Like Patsy, she too likes to sunbake and drink. Mum, was, is anorexic. Now, I am not going to talk about Mum's demons. they are hers to tell. But for me, I will say, growing up in a house where a mother, a woman clearly hated her body had a direct influence on me.

For years I followed her example, and hated my body, this external hate also included internal hate. Years of trying to have babies and then having miscarriages will do that to you.

Just as I learnt to hate my body, I am now trying learn a healthy love of my body. By adopting a realistic and positive perception of myself, I am hopeful I will teach my two children love for their own bodies and love of other women's bodies.

Does this mean I now don't look in the mirror and find fault? No. Does this mean I have gotten over my insecurities and will start posting selfies? Or shots of myself wearing bikinis? No freaken way. Not there yet. But I am trying, I am working on being thankful for what my body is, and does for me. Not what it doesn't.

Pet hate...magazines covers that declare "too fat", "too thin", "cellulite", and so on. Why are women buying these mags? Is it to make themselves feels better? What is your pet hate when it comes to trashing women's bodies and their self confidence?

note: image not my own, found on Google.