The C-word

I used to think that someone calling me fat would be the worst thing ever. That was until I got called the C-word. Someone calling me stupid ranks right up there too, but that's because it takes me back to my childhood. Do I think the word should be eliminated? No. I just don't want anyone calling me one. I used to joke with a few friends of mine about cunt being a term of endearment, but that was before someone yelled, "You fucking Cunt" at me. Since then, I find no humor in the word, and repeated use of the term doesn't soften the blow. It's odd how words can sometimes feel worse than a shove or slap, not that physical violence is any better, of course. It's not. A harsh word thrown in your face is the gift that keeps on giving, much harder to get over than people would imagine, especially with an OCD brain.


I have a hard time not cringing when watching people like this girl speak. Anyone who doesn't understand what feminism means shouldn't be allowed to have a discussion about it. Plus, does she not realize that shakespeare was dead in the early 1600's? She says that the C-word didn't become offensive until then, but, Honey, that was a long, looooonnnnggg time ago. It always saddens me when people forget that feminism is a movement promoting and defending political, economic and social equality for women, and break it down into this false idea that women want to be superior or to dominate. I like that the host in that clip points out that she obviously wouldn't have the rights she does today without feminism. Ultimately, in this country, the C-word has been accepted as obscene, degrading, offensive and shocking. Apparently, it's not quite as bad in other countries, but it has never been considered a kind word anywhere. 


I'm not the only one who has issues with this word though. In a VH1 series called Undateable guys calling girls the C-word was ranked the number one reason a guy would be undateable. Yup- I'd have to agree. It's true that the etymology of a word has much to do with how any word is perceived, but there's much to be said about how the word is delivered and the intention behind the delivery too. I was recently in an interesting debate about gender and terms that could be found offensive. The guy I was discussing this with said that some of his female friends are offended when anyone calls them guys. I would find it very difficult to be offended if someone walked up to a few of my friends and me and, with a smile, said, "hey guys," especially considering that the term guys has traditionally included women. On the other hand, if people find it offensive, I suppose it's their right. 


I suppose it all comes down to the fact that words have power. 


I feel kind of bad that I sort of poked fun at those three authors in my other blog post. Still, I had to laugh when I heard one of them say "mouses" (which is actually a word, but probably not the one he meant) and then "mices" in an interview about a prank that was done with mice. Yeah, I know. I make mistakes too. 




I can't figure out why, but I never seem to get tired of this song:

I was going through all the proposal stuff for my book, and had to laugh at what I wrote. I love it though, so I'm leaving it as is, despite it being a little bit on the self indulgent side. Oh well. 

Training on Empty

An Anorexic’s Tale of Self Abuse.

Description: Karen Carpenter meets Sea Biscuit meets Dr. Phil. This is the story of my life. On paper, I should be dead. At age 13, I became anorexic and struggled with the illness for over 20 years. While I was anorexic, I also became one of the best athletes in all of Colorado. My sensational high profile running career fizzled out, and I succumbed to anorexia so severe that I wasn’t expected to make it. However, I survived. This book takes a hard look at the causes of anorexia, the day to day struggles, and some theories on how to recover from this devastating disorder. It delves into the complexities of the illness and covers the difficulties that can arise once recovery has begun.

Body: 37 chapters. Starting at my weakest moment where I could hardly stand on my own two feet, I look back, moving through childhood, puberty and into adulthood, reflecting on my career as an elite athlete and the traumas that led to my illness. This story focuses not only on actual events, but on the emotional responses as well. It incorporates philosophy, physiology, spirituality (and sometimes lack of spirituality), and heartfelt truth all rolled into an intriguing story of surprising survival. The story is true; only the names have been changed.

Conclusion: Unlike most books on anorexia that leave the reader with little hope, this book offers inspiration. Far from just another story of a girl refusing to eat, this true story provides information on how to get well and heal both the body and the spirit by finding inner strength. 

That's some serious shit!!!  hehe