J. 23, Netherlands

“In the forest I can always really clear my head and be in the moment for a while.”

I had the portrait made as a reminder to myself to be thankful for – and proud of my body. I always (like many other women I think), looked at myself and my body through an incredibly critical loupe. When I started strength training I learned how to know my body better and it turned out that I had misunderstood my body for a long time. It has helped me to let go of the critical magnifying glass and to look at my body with a more loving and proud look. I notice that my body is getting stronger and can do more than ever if I take good care of it. For me, the portrait is a momento of this process: it symbolizes self-confidence and reminds me to celebrate my body.

I’m going to hang the portrait on my bedroom wall. I think it’s a nice place because then I can see the portrait when I get up, and when I go back to bed. A kind of sweet reminder to myself to be good and thankful for my body.