I have been seeing this picture popping up all over Facebook lately, and I have to say it has really bothered/stuck out to me. I'm torn by what this picture is really saying, I know the general message is something along the lines of "you don't have to be a skinny super model to be beautiful" and with that, I totally agree. The other thing this picture is telling me is that it's okay to be over weight, and that your weight has nothing to do with beauty.. which I also agree with, to some point.
I have never noticed how huge of a role society plays in our everyday lives, on one hand we have actresses coming out and saying "I'm fat, I know it, embrace it, love it, because it's okay to be unhealthy, it's still beautiful." along with other things like "we don't have to be skinny like "everyone" wants us to be. On the other hand we are willingly forced to see beautiful men and women on TV, in magazines, online and in newspapers who are stick thin, claiming they do not have a disorder, that the bones sticking out of their chests are a sign of being healthy. So what is it? What is beauty? Should we all put on 50 lbs and call it good? or should we exercise and deprive ourselves of food? It seems as though these are the only answers we have.
Now, I beg to differ on this. I spent a majority of my life worrying about my weight, as you can tell from some of my previous blog posts, I even went through a 2 yr. eating disorder in which I literally ate nothing new- ever. My diet was horrible, but I lost about 30 lbs and kept it off. Awesome? no. When I became pregnant I wasn't one of those people who stuffed their faces and blamed the baby, (not to be rude, but some of those people are out there) I tried to eat a little better, and get over my - what I will call "fear of new foods". The pregnancy helped a lot, and I gained a normal "healthy" amount of weight, and delivered a beautiful healthy baby girl. I'm using the word healthy a lot here because I think that is what beauty is. To me, beauty is a combination of happiness, healthiness, and confidence. There is nothing worse than either a skinny person OR an overweight person complaining about their weight. In fact, I find it pathetic.
Right now, according to the "doctors charts" I am right at a "healthy weight" and I have to say that, no I'm not as thin as my wedding day, but I am much happier and a LOT less self conscious. There are days of course that I wish I could look good in some skinny jeans, but come on, do those really look good on anyone?? (Maybe I'll address the world's fashion problems next). Beauty should not be defined by a persons weight, although (AND ALL MEDICAL ISSUES ASIDE- obviously) weight can be an outward expression of an inward problem. What my main concern is, is that we (especially here in America- according to my homework this week) are so willing to let society and the mass media tell us what is beautiful and what is acceptable. Letting our weight define us as individuals, letting it dictate our level of happiness and confidence is absolute ludicrous.
What I suggest isn't that all the overweight people loose weight, and all the underweight people gain it, I'm suggesting that we all find our "happy place" the place where we all feel most comfortable, the place where it really doesn't matter what number your jean size is because you are confident in yourself anyway. Beauty is NOT self consciousness, and it is NOT unhappiness. It also isn't the classic "trying to make your self feel better by putting others down"-syndrome that many girls these days have. We all just need to worry about ourselves, find what makes us happy, and the people who will fully support us in this venture. So often are we surrounded by people who don't want us to be our best selves, and this is something we need to get rid of.
For the younger girls out there, it's hard sometimes, in high school to realize how meaningless, and silly all this is- but let me assure you- it will pale in comparison to your "grown up years". Are we going to sit back and willingly let society, or friends, the media, etc, tell us what is acceptable and beautiful? OR are we going to decide for ourselves what makes us happy?
Happiness, Confidence, and Healthiness= Beauty.
That's so funny, every time I saw that on FB I kept thinking the same thing.
ReplyDeleteI could not agree more. Every single thing you are saying is exactly what I think! I always try and tell people that losing weight is a by-product of being healthy! Even if you don't lose weight or aren't trying to lose/gain weight, being healthy makes you feel better about yourself and always has your physically feeling better. Love what you have to say Erica!
ReplyDeletemarkie, I agree with you, more what I was trying to say though, was that I don't think it matters if you are a little over weight, or underweight, if you are happy then own it! When you are happy, and confident, and try to be as healthy as you can, you are beautiful! It doesn't matter your jean size, it matters how you feel inside. I think thats what girls need to be taught.
ReplyDeleteYes! Especially the healthiness part. So many people may be at a "healthy" weight but eat a diet that is not healthy at all. So sad. And confidence and happiness are so much of looking beautiful.
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