“A person has the right, and I think the responsibility, to develop all of their talents” – Jessye Norman.
Vocalist Jessye Norman was indisputably one of the major artists of our time. A triumphant career associated with the highest level of music making has led to many honors and awards, including the Kennedy Center Honors, the National Medal of Arts, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Glenn Gould Prize for Music, and more than 40 honorary doctorates.
Unfortunately Jessye Norman’s size and girth were big points of conversation for listeners and reviewers alike dating back to the 1970’s. She was referred to as “a woman of generous proportions with voice to match,” and “an entire orchestra in person”.
Jessye Norman candidly said, “dress size has nothing to do with opera singing” in an interview. “And certainly there were those instances when singers were told they need to fit into a certain size dress. Of course, women. Men? They just make the costume bigger.”
It has never been reported that Jessye Norman was living with or affected by diabetes during her lifetime. However, we still admire her for standing up to criticism and being a strong, independent woman and trailblazer. She didn’t let people’s meanspirited comments stop her from being who she was! She lived her life to the fullest and continued to challenge herself as an artist.
How do you deal with criticism about your size and/or weight?
Unfortunately insults, criticisms, and hidden messages often make us awful about ourselves. Especially if they are being said by someone close to us.
People who comment on how you look are really just offering insight into how little they would value themselves if they looked different. People who worry a lot about putting on weight might actually be afraid that they won’t be loveable if they don’t conform. They don’t trust that they are good enough regardless of how they look. In this case, their comments can make you appreciate that you don’t have the same insecurities that they do.
Reflecting on how you respond to criticism will make you better at addressing criticism the next time. As the old adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
Sometimes, someone’s criticism towards you has nothing to do with you. If a stranger is criticizing you on social media, for example, sometimes it is best not to respond.
Oprah Winfrey learned to not ask herself, “What’s wrong with that person?”but rather, what happened to that person?”
We also like to recommend building a really good self care routine to boost your self esteem and happiness as these will give you resilience to any criticism too.
Tune in to Divabetic’s Diabetes Late Nite podcast on Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 6 – 7:30 PM. EST. We’re talking about weight loss drugs, how to maximize your metabolism, self-love, and heart health makeovers with music from Jessye Norman.
Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE offers her opinions on the top home blood pressure monitors.
Pharmacist and Certified Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Mandy Reece PharmD CDCES, BC-ADM, BCACP, FADCES provides insight on the effectiveness and side effects of weight loss drugs including iraglutide, and semaglutide.
“Maximize Your Metabolism: Lifelong Solutions to Lose Weight, Restore Energy, and Prevent Disease” Co-Authors Dr. Noel Maclaren and Sunita Singh Maclaren discuss how brain health is related to insulin resistance.
American Heart Association’s Know Diabetes By Heart Ambassador, Sarah B. shares why her mindset about her health changed after her husband’s death and how she came to adopt the motto: “We have a habit of putting limits on ourselves. We need to push beyond them.”
Throughout the podcast we will be featuring music from Jessye Norman’s Roots: My Life, My Song (Live at The Philharmonie Berlin) album courtesy of SONY Music.