Sunday, September 18, 2011

Non quilty blog post


Hello readers


When I last posted I was thinking that I would be here chatting about some different aspects of my life than previous posts have only alluded to. Now while we all try to keep a modicum of privacy within the social networking sphere,  I feel the time has come to disclose to my regular readers more about the person they are reading about.
So with some misgivings but with a great deal of optimism (I have always felt well supported by those who choose to visit my blog) I want to discuss some of the other things that make me who I am.


I came late to the quilting and sewing world and I took it up at a time when I needed a distraction from the disappointment and on-going depression I felt from resigning from my job.


In 1999 I went back to school full time after my youngest went into pre-school. I completed a  12 month bridging course that allowed me to apply to study for a degree at university. I wanted to study in the social sciences field. I had to do my degree by distance education as the local uni wasn't running the course. Over the years it was a struggle to study and still care for a family of five kids and a husband as well as work casually for an organisation who supported people with disabilities.
But I managed it, as my family were great, especially the bloke who it must be said went beyond the call of duty to support me.
Anyway through out the years of study I also carried some fairly big life limiting health issues.


In 1994 I made the now regretful decision to undergo weight loss surgery (WLS) and had my stomach stapled. I thought it would end my days of dealing with a larger than optimum body and allow me to participate in life more.
You see I was/am according to the medical professionals 'obese', 'super obese', or even worse bariatric. I am not keen on any of these descriptors and in fact prefer to be just a fatty. Mind you this is when talking about myself I don't really think anyone will have a need to address me as this is Jan the fatty!
Anyway, what is my point here? Over the past 12-18 months I have been reading a lot about fat acceptance (FA) in the blogosphere. It has made interesting reading to me, a person who has for the most part of her life lived with the 'shame' of being a fatty.
What is the FA about you might ask? In simple terms it is a movement that directs its efforts at changing societal attitudes toward people who are fat. In their work they are also attempting to alter internal and medical attitudes, and reduce the hatred and discrimination faced by many big people.

Another movement, Health at Every Size (HAES) promotes that health is independent, not dependant on body weight. Individuals can pursue mental and physical health regardless of their physical appearance or size.
Okay that's the end of my little essay. Plenty more time for further posts on the subject and I certainly don't want to come across as the know all of either the FA or the HAES movement. I am still finding my away around the movement, the actions and the people, and I have made some great new cyber friends.
I intend to blog more about this subject, amongst the quilting and sewing posts. These things are important to me right now.
What do you think, if anything, about the whole idea of it? I have probably been a bit too brief about this very important discussion but I must be honest and let you know that mentally I remain tired, strained and non to clear in my thinking.So this is all I could manage.

Hope I have not put anyone off with my meandering ways today.

Take care

15 comments:

  1. What a fascinating post - five kids and a uni degree? WOW!

    Personally, I believe with blogging you should always write about the things and issues you are passionate about and that are important to *you*. This is because I believe you then will write from the heart with an added underpinning of knowledge and experience. It always makes for fascinating reading from a reader's perspective.

    The issues you've raised in your post today seem to be ones that are important to you.

    My only hesitation is you may need to be prepared for negative comments from some "sectors" of society about these issues.

    You need to seriously consider whether you are truly able to read negative comments and say "to heck with you?!" (and then hit delete) without it causing you any inner turmoil?

    If you can do this, I personally think you should *absolutely* go forward with this.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Kate for visiting and leaving a helpful comment. Yes I had a good think about negative comments, but do believe I am able to handle them. I also think that my blog does not get much attention so the haters might not find me. If they do then delete is my friend.
    Thanks for the vote if confidence.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Jan, I agree with Kate, you should blog about anything you want. You have friends out here who support you.

    Don't forget that there are many aspects to you and also that people see you in many ways. I think of you as talented and intelligent, and now you have written this current post, I also think of you as courageous and amazing.

    Blog on :)

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  4. Wow thanks KJ, you are kind to provide feedback, it means a lot to me. And I'll be sure to keep my random banter up. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Jan - I agree, blog about what you want to. A blog is your thoughts, and you may get comments that are both positive and negative, but I have found that sometimes positive comments are UNhelpful, and negative comments can actually also be helpful... Love your quilt pictures - you're very talented!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi enjoy reading your blog particularly today, what a brave insightful post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thanks lovely ladies, your comments mean a lo to me. Thanks for reading.

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  8. Welcome to the Fatosphere Jan. You've joined the ranks of so many of us who start exploring different ideas on blogs that started out for other purposes, but grew to something more.

    I'm so glad to see you talking about this stuff. That's been some of the most cathartic processes for me - just talking about it, working through what I am thinking and entertaining the thought that there is an alternative to the mainstream view on fat and health and bodies.

    We're here to support you.

    ReplyDelete
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