16 Comments
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jude's avatar

brilliantly written and so moving, julia. i loved you wrapping your niece up and carrying her to her room. what a role model you are for her, for all of us.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

thanks so much jude <3

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Buck's avatar

I can’t wait to listen!!! I also started powerlifting as my Dad was dying last year April. Sounds like you are hardcore involved, very cool. Thank you for sharing about your experience

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Julia Turshen's avatar

Thanks so much — I hope you enjoy listening to it! I'm so sorry about your father — I hope lifting has been healing.

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C L Milne's avatar

Oh such a lovely and kind to yourself place to be! Thank you for sharing this.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

Thanks so much ❤️

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Pam's avatar

This is just terrific, all of it!! You are incredible, Julia---and what an Aunt you are!❤️

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Julia Turshen's avatar

Thanks so much Pam 💕

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Virginia Sole-Smith's avatar

Listened to the first half of this on my walk this morning and CANNOT WAIT TO FINISH. So, so beautiful.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

thank you so much XOOXOXOXOOXO

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Wendy's avatar

Stunning! Thank you for sharing your story. It is incredibly moving and inspiring. You are amazing!

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Julia Turshen's avatar

Thank you!

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Amy Kerr's avatar

Julia, I’m in the middle of this piece and find myself nodding and misty-eyed. This particular section moved me so much:

“My body, as it is right now, weighing exactly what it weighs right now, belongs to someone who is not terrified of eating, not terrified of seeing how much she can lift, not terrified of finding out how strong she is. It is a body that looks like someone with meat on her bones. That meat is made of the things I am capable of. The food that I am capable of not only consuming but also enjoying. The rest I am capable of knowing. The quiet I am capable of not fighting. The iron I am capable of lifting. My meat is made of pleasure and brawn.”

I am so glad you found this kind of love for yourself and admiration and joy in what your body is capable of. May it be so for all of us.

Thank you so, so much for sharing your writing with us. What a gift! I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

Thank you so so so much.

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Jess's avatar

Julia, you are such a brilliant writer and storyteller. I love your essays in Simply Julia and I love this new long form journey for you!! I told my friends this is the essay we all wish we could write after listening to all of Maintenance Phase.

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Julia Turshen's avatar

thank you so much Jess <3

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