rose in bloom - who I am today!

 WHO I AM TODAY!

At the age of 86, I am very contented.  Very contented with my size.    For almost 50 years I withstood and overcame 'discrimination of size' within both my family as well as the world around me.   I became passionate about learning what to do in order to deal with that discrimination shown towards me, so I took copious notes of what I was learning along the way.   

How was I to know that there would come a time when I in turn could become the mentor of other large and plus size women.  Not only in my own city, not only in my own country, but throughout the world.  Those notes became the foundation of my motivational books, and in turn the basis of my naîve love stories.

The joy of writing my newsletters particularly on a monthly and quite often bi-monthly regularity, and receiving thousands of emails from women who lived in countries far and wide from my small office, gave me the incentive to do more.   The newsletters have continued for 32 years (a little spasmodic these days I must admit).  I began the "Coffee Shop Get-Togethers©" that originated in Victoria, but spread to the ACT, Western Australia and Tasmania; regular "catchups" with friends made during the early days of the Nineties.  

I then ventured into the world of speaking engagements that flowed from those newsletters and gave me the opportunity of actually meeting face to face women from every walk of life.

Business Owners

 Professional Women from all professions

Doctors

Politicians

Entertainers

Authors

Project Managers

Motivators

Events Organisers

Small business owners

Major fashion (clothing/garment) manufacturers 

- Australian as well as British

Theologians

  Psychologists

These women in turn provided me with ongoing encouragement throughout those years.   An interesting thing that occured was that many women encouraged their male partners/friends to attend many of the talks.   These people in turn contributed an amazing amount of input dealing with discrimination many of them were receiving - not always on THEIR size, but the fact their partners were large and lovely women.   

Discrimination in many areas of our everyday lives have been confronted, and some even resolved.  However, in my observations I see the return of discrimination of size, in unhealthy ways occurring in society.   When I say unhealthy ways I refer mainly to emotional ways whereby larger women are still made to feel less important in the scheme of things.  Women especially are made to feel embarrassed. Women especially are made to feel unacceptable.   Women especially are made to feel as though they're unworthy.   

The written word can encourage.  However, the critical and harshly spoken words that come from the lips of other people,  can discourage, can minimise, can make a person cringe and too often creates a situation where larger people become withdrawn, bitter, unhappy and broken individuals.

This is another reason why I write.  To break down archaic attitudes.  To create environments for others to grow and develop a healthy and happy attitude, accepting themselves as unique, one-off individuals, accepted and respected in today's society.  

Will we ever overcome discrimination of size?   I'm really not sure.  However, I think it's more important that each one of us works towards building up our own self-esteem (with the assistance of other like-minded women).   

When we learn to be content with who and what we are, then we can face others in a confidently and self-assured way that expresses faith in oneself or one's abilities or qualities.

Copyright ©Rosemary Parry-Brock Davidson 2022.