Okay... I'm taking a deep breath as I write this because I'm sharing a new video today and it's a BOLD ONE.
I made this video for two reasons:
1. Today is Love Your Body Day.
2. I've been inspired by many of the amazing posts that are part of the Exposed Movement.
So... here you go!
This is my body. from Joy Tanksley on Vimeo.
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I have chills, Joy. What a beautiful expression of the exposed movement and love your body day.
You are a rock star, my friend.
Christie {Honoring Health}´s last [type] ..215800
Thanks so much. I can’t tell you how much it means to see your comment (which I know is sincere and thoughtful) to be the first in line on this particular post.
Wonderful, Joy! Thank you for sharing!
I was an art model off and on for ten years. Watching how others represented my body was a fascinating lesson for me. Women were more uncomfortable than men. And the things folks chose to emphasize often said more about what they feared or how they saw themselves than anything about me. I felt so powerful then, before the small doubts and nagging sense of imperfection set in. Thanks for reminding me that I can find my way back to a place that should still be familiar!
THANK YOU! I love the perspective you shared form being an art model. So interesting! And YES you CAN find your way back!
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by rebeccaweger and Christie Inge, Joy Tanksley. Joy Tanksley said: Happy Love Your Body Day! To celebrate, I made a video… of my body. http://ow.ly/2WlSK #lybd #exposed […]
Your body is a vehicle for that wonderful MIND and HEART and SOUL that I know to be my best friend. Love your body. Love you.
All I can say to that is RIGHT BACK ATCHYA!
Joy, this is absolutely amazing! Like Christie, I have chills right now. Such a beautiful body, a beautifully-made video, and a beautiful concept. One of my initial reactions is that I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to make a video like this one…which has opened the door for me to explore why that is, and to keep pressing on in my journey to self-acceptance and love. THANK YOU!
Oh, Katie, you are welcome. Thanks for your lovely comment.
And about the bravery thing… In the past 12 months I have been called “brave” and “courageous” and “gutsy” more than I have in all the other years of my life combined. The thing I’ve learned about being brave is that it comes with a whole lot of FEAR every single time. Every time I push myself to take a risk, I get scared out of my mind. The difference in me now verses me before is that I feel my fear and take the risk ANYWAY!
You know I love this…and you! Our bodies are the homes of our selves, our souls, and our bodies deserve our respect and love. You GO girl…
KCLAnderson (Karen)´s last [type] ..Before & After– Exposed
Thanks, baby! YES!
I FREAKING LOVE THIS!!!!
I have seen, now, 110 Exposed posts and this ranks in the top. I LOVE your creativity. I love your voice with the photos of your words. Thank you SO much for joining this movement!
WOW! What high praise, Mish. I am honored to be a part of this.
Awesome! Poetic, beautiful, inspiring. I love this take on the exposed post. Happy with what my body can do *right now* — what a great way to face each day. Thanks for that thought.
barb´s last [type] ..my personal mission statement
YEAH! Thank you, Barb! I really appreciate you coming over and commenting!
This video is a banner for the rewards of taking a leap of faith. Your words, your body, your film making all combine to make ART! Gorgeous work Joy, thank-you for sharing!
ami´s last [type] ..Are you doing the thing you love more than anything else
Ami, your comment means so much to me. I really poured my soul into making this video, and I truly felt like an artist as I was working. And, then, the doubt crept in and the mean voice said, “Who do you think you are? An artist or something! HA! What a joke!” But, I decided to ignore the voice and post this anyway. And I can promise I wouldn’t have gone through with it if I didn’t know that wonderful, supportive, affirming friends like you would have my back.
That was beautiful — thank you!
It is MY privilege, Max!
I agree with all of the above. That took a lot of guts.
I am still battling with my mind about a lot of this, but seeing so many other women out there like you, it’s inspiring. If you can do it, then maybe I can too.
Kristine´s last [type] ..Things making me smile
I hear you, Kristine. I can’t tell you how much I’ve been helped by brave women who are willing to be exactly who they are. It’s ridiculously cool to think I can now BE one of those women.
You are truly beautiful both inside and out. This inspires me to do a mighty work on how I see myself,on how I think I look. I find myself dressing in the bathroom, not wanting your dad to see what I have come to view as “un-beautiful”. I have started buying the too big shirts again. I have put off treating myself to a massage just because, well you know. Today, I am going to make an effort to tell myself that I am beautiful not just inside but outside as well. I am also going to think about all of the wondrous things my body can do and express gratitude for them. Thanks so much. I’m going to watch your video again.
Love you
I love you, Mom. And I’m calling you right now to tell you.
You’re beautiful, Joy! Thank you for such an inspiring blog. Love the video, love you. Love that cute little belly button!
Farmgirl Susan´s last [type] ..Tuesday Dose of Cute– Let the Games Begin! Not
Ha ha ha ha ha! THANKS! I just love you, Susan.
Joy,
This is beautiful! YOU…are beautiful!!
Much love…always…
Lance
Lance´s last [type] ..Monsters– Fears– and Moving Forward
Thank you, dear friend. Much love right back.
Truly lovely. You are already a Nia teacher, my friend. And a poet. xo
Oh my. I’m crying now. Wish I could hug you tight.
I have tears in my eyes. Thank you, Joy, for being the brave, bold, beautiful woman you are!
Ashley @ Nourishing the Soul´s last [type] ..Today’s Nourishment — The Folks Inside
Thank you, thank you, thank you. It’s so much easier to be brave, bold, and beautiful when I’m surrounded by such brave, bold, beautiful women LIKE YOU!
Never doubt that you are an artist and a poet and a pioneer. I always did think you were beautiful inside and out and now you are even MORE beautiful in this lovely piece. Everyone in the world should see this. I am so proud of you!
I began modeling when I was 57, cellulite, veins, tummy and all. The first few minutes were scary and I kept wondering if I had gone crazy all the night before my “debute”. But after that, loved the challenge of holding a pose without moving ANYTHING. And some people even told me they were glad to draw someone who had wrestled with life for awhile.
As a 64-year-old woman, I still occasionally fill in when our scheduled model doesn’t show up. It is hard to not compare myself with the usual 20-year –old dancers and athletes that we normally draw, but I always welcome the chance to challenge myself again.
Thank you again for this lovely piece, Joy. Love you, girl!
Mmmmm… Jean. You add so much to this blog. I appreciate and love you. Thank you. And DAMN I love the that you fill in as a model sometimes. That ROCKS MY WORLD!
Joy, this is stunning. I don’t know that I have anything to add that everyone hasn’t said, but I wanted to just echo the comments about you being so brave, beautiful and inspiring. You are so true to yourself, and that always comes through in your blog posts. And you’re not afraid to put yourself out there to help your readers.
Simply, wow, wow, and wow.
Thank you!
Margarita @ Weightless´s last [type] ..Why the Media Isn’t to Blame for Eating Disorders
Thank you, sweet girl. I am so blessed to know you. YOU inspire ME.
Hi Joy, I found you today from a link on Brene’s website, and I thank her with all my heart for that. You’re amazing, reading through your posts, seeing how much you care about the people who read your words. I am grateful today that I found your sweet patch of affirmation, it’s contagious, I feel great!
Welcome, welcome, welcome. “Sweet patch of affirmation”!!!! Oh my goodness! I love those words, and I’m going to start using that as my intention as I write for this blog. Thank you so much for clicking over and commenting. Hope you’ll stick around!
Oh I sooooooo plan to!
DeAnne´s last [type] ..The Zen Oxymoron of Perfection
Ah Joy, once again you’ve outdone yourself! I can’t even imagine doing something like this, except maybe in the privacy of my own home with nobody watching. When you said that you can’t believe that you had hated your body for so many years it resonated loud and clear. I’m still trying to love the body I’m in. It’s not easy particularly since I’m in my 50’s and I have aches and pains that I don’t feel I should have at my age. I get angry at myself for letting myself go and not taking care of me when I was younger. But as you know I’m working on it little by little. Two steps forward and one step back many times. So thank you many times over for this and all that you do to help the process. You are a lovely lady and a lady who is loved (by many).
Rita, thank you. You are so wonderful. I know it’s not easy to come to that place of love and acceptance, but the journey is worth it. You are doing SUCH GOOD WORK! Two steps forward and one step back is AWESOME! I don’t think there’s any other way…
How lovely you are. What a sweet voice, to go with your tender words. The thing I have the hardest time giving my body is just that… tenderness.
Your body is an art form, and your video a poignant reminder to see the art in my own body. Thank you!
Technical question: did you do all the filming yourself? some of those angles are especially awesome, and I wondered how you captured them — laptop, video cam, tripod, helper?
Jet Harrington´s last [type] ..100 things I love in the world – autumn
Thank you, baby. Mmmm… “tenderness.” YES!
Okay — answer to your tech question. Are you ready? It’s complicated… NOT!
I did the video with just me and my Mac. That’s it. I do own a Flip cam + good tripod, but I stuck with the webcam on my Mac because I wanted to see the shots as they were being created. I simply placed my MacBook on a barstool, then on a footstool, then on the floor. I stood against a plain white wall. You can see the outlet in a few of the shots! HA! Anyway, I danced and moved around to get a lot of different shots to work with. It definitely would have been easier with an assistant! (But then again, it was so personal. I think it was powerful for me to do it alone.) Then I used IMovie to edit and play with the images. That’s it! The wonders of modern technology, right?
How did I not know about you and your wonderful blog before? This is amazing and so are you.
AW! Thank you SO MUCH! I really appreciate you coming over and making such a lovely comment.
Well done Joy! I feel more loving and accepting of my body. I feel more powerful to be my message in the world because of you! Keep going!
ROB! That’s freakin’ awesome! YOU keep going!
Brava!! All bodies are perfect and wonderful and sharing yours with your expressions of love and honor is great.
Thank you, Catherine! XO!
Once again I am awed by you. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself — your willingness to be vulnerable is such an inspiration and such a relief from the typical message we hear and see. The world needs more Joy!
Well, look who it is!
Thank you, honey. Love you!
I have to echo Christie’s “I’ve got chills” … because I do too. Actually, I have nothing more to say … that pretty much says it all.
Eliza´s last [type] ..Words From The Editor– Dating– Youthfulness– Sexy Heroes– Volunteering
I love having you here, Eliza.
Awesomely inspiring!
Thanks, Kelly! I really appreciate you watching and commenting!
What a beautiful video, Joy–the narration and editing are nothing short of inspired! Can’t imagine how you did this all by yourself–your very own “song of myself.” Brava, girlfriend!
xoxoxox!!
I love that! Yes — it’s my song of myself!
Thanks, Laurie.
Joy,
Thank you. Watching your video today is particularly poignant as I contemplate the fact that I may be faced with serious changes to my body after the scheduled biopsy this morning. Reminded me to rejoice in the body I have because it is amazingly beautiful. One final note, I swear that my computer screen absolutley glows whenever you smile—it is just that radiant!!!!
Wow, Kim, thank you so much. I am just so moved to know that my little video maybe gave you a bit of strength as you face your biopsy. Much, much love and light to you.
you are beyond wonderful & brave & awesome.
i wanted to cry & smile all at the same time while watching your video.
Erica Lee´s last [type] ..when to let go– friendships edition
Oh, THANK YOU, sweet Erica!
Finally a real person in this crazy media driven world! Joy this is a good post that goes against the grain of how media (and the world) says we should be. Magazines just airbrush photos of girls and take millions of pictures until they get the perfect shot, then we all think that women have to be like that! It is so sad! We are currently doing a post on media and how it effects us followed by the problem of traffic of women/girls in prostitution. I will let you know when it is up! In the mean time thanks for being real and keep it that way!!
Mark Kearney | Loaded London´s last [type] ..Good times! -
Thanks, Mark! I really appreciate this comment!
[…] This week, Joy posted an extremely honest, revealing, awesome video called “This Is My Body” in honor of Love Your Body […]
[…] It happened so gradually, that I can’t say exactly when all the pieces came together. But by the spring of 2010, everything had changed. I was not only loving my body, I was celebrating it. […]
[…] Joy:BeingJoy […]