Dear Body is a podcast and photo journalism series telling stories about people's relationships with their bodies. The intention for this series is to celebrate diverse bodies, honor the resilience and wisdom of the body, and shine a light on real, authentic stories that shift our cultural narrative.
Welcome to the first episode of Dear Body. This has been a long time coming and I’m so excited to share this first story with you.
My guest is Oswald Perez, an inspiring writer and poet from New York City. He writes to share the world through his eyes using words, photos, and prose. He inspires people to tell their stories because our stories are ART.
In this conversation, he recalls his journey with cerebral palsy. It was such a honor to speak with Oswald and hear about how he gained his power back after many years of challenging mobility, surgeries, and body braces. I hope you find his story as enlightening as I did.
You can find more of
‘s work on his Substack publication, The Newsletter Underneath the Security Blanket, and on his Instagram account. Keep an eye out for the re-release of his first book of poetry, A Poetic Journey, Staying at Home.
Dear body:
I see you and all your scarred glory. Those scars gave you your life.
You’ve gone through so much.
From all the surgeries to fix the deformities to various therapies to gain strength and function in how to use it. It hasn’t been an easy process at times.
But you’re here now on your own two feet. Free of braces and all the other orthopedics that limited your movement.
With each step forward, you’re creating a life that you want. Sure, it’s a work in progress. But one that should be embraced to the fullest.
Don’t let self consciousness stop you. Nor the comments about your body’s shape from other people.
Embrace every inch of your body.
Dear Body is supported by Heart-led Creator, a Substack publication that explores the sensual delights of the body and creating from the heart. Subscribe for updates on new Dear Body episodes and weekly love notes for creative souls. Upgrade to a paid subscription for monthly therapeutic art classes, on-going library of guided resources, and private group chat to share your creations, inspiration, and curiosities.
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