We originally shared this circa 2010 on one of the predecessors to this site after receiving a very interesting email sent to us by a friend. We loved the positive body image it encouraged and have decided to share it again here. If anyone knows who the original author is, please feel free to post it in the comments of the page. 

https://sites.google.com/site/eclassventures/health-and-fitness

Recently,  in a large French city, a poster featuring a young, thin and tan
 woman appeared in the window of a gym.  It said:

THIS SUMMER DO YOU WANT TO BE A MERMAID OR A WHALE? 

 A middle aged woman, whose physical characteristics did not match
 those of the woman on the poster, responded publicly to the question posed by the gym.

To Whom It May Concern: 
Whales are always surrounded by friends (dolphins, sea lions,  curious  humans).  They have an active sex life, they get pregnant and have adorable baby whales.  They have a wonderful time with dolphins stuffing themselves with shrimp.  They play and swim in the seas, seeing  wonderful places like Patagonia, the Bering Sea and the coral reefs of Polynesia. Whales are wonderful singers and have even recorded CDs.  They are incredible creatures and virtually have no predators other than humans. They are loved, protected and admired by almost everyone in the world.

Mermaids don’t exist.  If they did exist, they would be lining up outside the offices of Argentinean psychoanalysts due to identity crisis.  Fish or human?  They don’t have a sex life because they kill men who get close to them not to mention how could they have sex?  Therefore they don’t have kids either.  Not to mention who  wants to get close to a girl who’s skin is all scaly and smells like a fish store?

 The choice is perfectly clear to me… I want to be a whale.

 P.S. We are in an age when media puts into our heads the idea that  only skinny people are beautiful, but I prefer to enjoy an ice cream with  my grandkids, a good dinner with a man who makes me shiver and a
 latte with my friends.  With time, we gain weight because we  accumulate so much information and wisdom in our heads that when there is  no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies.  So we aren’t heavy, we are enormously cultured, educated and happy.

Beginning today, when I look at my butt in the mirror I will think, “Good gosh, look how smart I am”!

Make the choice to love your body even if you’re working to make changes. Decide to enjoy the journey and the body that’s transporting you on the journey and make it a hot girl summer!