The other day I was having a conversation with a friend* , and she said that it was finally getting easier for her to walk into malls and stores and see the models and not feel self conscious about her body. (fyi- my friend is totally gorgeous and thin) I was really surprised to hear this, because seeing skinny supermodels and actresses has never made me feel self-conscious about my body....looking at my friends and people around me does.
I have a theory for this too. (if I didn't...well, then I wouldn't have a blog post, now would I?)
Everybody knows the big outrage about women in the media being photoshoped to look like unrealistic Barbies,** etc..etc... (I actually don't have a problem with that....magazine covers are MEANT to be edited..it's just the way the business works) Since I know exactly how much people in the media are photoshoped, and because I could photoshop them myself.....that's why looking at them doesn't make me want to lose weight.
But, the girls around me ARE real, and I know that THEIR beauty is something attainable for me. They haven't been altered or edited....thus, I feel like I should look more like them.
All of those things I have been told over the years, and it's really, really hard not to believe them.
Now, don't go all "oh no, ruthie is about to cry about herself in a corner. quick! console! console!"**
No, all of this is mostly just observations on my part.
I'm finally to the point of not comparing myself to the girls around me. (sometimes...lol)
God doesn't focus on outward appearances, so maybe I shouldn't either?
I should be more attentive to the condition of my heart and soul****, than the status of my dress size.
*she-who-must-not-be-named
**For the record, I played with Barbies when I was little, and I never thought "oh, this is what I should look like."
***I'm REALLY not the cry in the corner type...
****heaaart and souuul, dah da da dah dah dah!!! okay, musical interlude is over.
P.S
Oh yeah- also....blog redesign. bam.
I have a theory for this too. (if I didn't...well, then I wouldn't have a blog post, now would I?)
Everybody knows the big outrage about women in the media being photoshoped to look like unrealistic Barbies,** etc..etc... (I actually don't have a problem with that....magazine covers are MEANT to be edited..it's just the way the business works) Since I know exactly how much people in the media are photoshoped, and because I could photoshop them myself.....that's why looking at them doesn't make me want to lose weight.
But, the girls around me ARE real, and I know that THEIR beauty is something attainable for me. They haven't been altered or edited....thus, I feel like I should look more like them.
Lose weight. Be a smaller pant size. Be more toned.
If you do those things, THEN everything will be better.
Guys will find you attractive, you'll attract a husband.
You will be more athletic and people will like to play sports with you.
Thus, you will be more fun.
Now, don't go all "oh no, ruthie is about to cry about herself in a corner. quick! console! console!"**
No, all of this is mostly just observations on my part.
I'm finally to the point of not comparing myself to the girls around me. (sometimes...lol)
God doesn't focus on outward appearances, so maybe I shouldn't either?
I should be more attentive to the condition of my heart and soul****, than the status of my dress size.
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” - 1 Samuel 16:7
*she-who-must-not-be-named
**For the record, I played with Barbies when I was little, and I never thought "oh, this is what I should look like."
***I'm REALLY not the cry in the corner type...
****heaaart and souuul, dah da da dah dah dah!!! okay, musical interlude is over.
P.S
Oh yeah- also....blog redesign. bam.
