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There are some really inspiring messages out there. Messages encouraging people to keep on moving, to get off the couch and start today, that being beautiful is more than just about being skinny. Sadly, there are also some negative messages out there... such as the over-used "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" said by Kate Moss. Well I'm sorry Miss Moss, but I can think of many things that taste delicious and I would sacrifice a few pounds to be able to eat them any day.
Should we really be encouraging people to hate food? The quote encourages people to lose weight by not eating. Simple as that. There is a serious issue in this country of people abusing food which has resulted in a very high and very scary number of obese people. Is the answer really to tell them to not eat? No, I don't think so. That's why we're still obese. At what point will we realize that teaching people {namely our daughter's} to hate food just leads to eating disorders. Even if you don't end up in a rehabilitation center, feeling guilty about having a cookie is no way to live.
It's not just weight either. We're constantly dying our hair, plucking our eyebrows, whitening our teeth, covering up our freckles... when will we stop trying to change and just start loving who we are? Sometimes these things are just fun things to do {wearing makeup, getting manicures and facials, I get this} but when you see a 10 year old girl getting her eyebrows waxed, you know its gone too far.
Bottom line, my goal isn't to be skinny. My goal is to feel good in my own skin. My goal isn't to have a flat stomach even when I bend over {I mean, how realistic is that?!?} My goal is to be able to enjoy a pasta dinner and a cupcake afterwards and not hate myself for it the next day. My goal isn't to have the most beautiful face. My goal is to have a beautiful soul. So I beg all of you out there... stop comparing yourself to the images you see, they're just idols. No one out there {well, I guess unless you have an identical twin} is built just like you. Be happy with that, and treat your body well.
What do you think about all of this? I can't be alone in this...
What do you think about all of this? I can't be alone in this...
Brava! I love this post! (I say as I eat my tenth Twizzler of the day)
ReplyDeleteVery well said sweetie. I think beauty is not about being skinny or being curvy.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder so they say. I have fought weight battles during my teen years and I am happy to have overcome those battles. I think it is important to indulge in that sinfully chocolatey cupcakes every now and then but it is also important to live a healthy balanced lifestyle. Healthy physically, mentally, and emotionally. Great post sweetie! Have a beautiful day
ReplyDeletetruly beautiful post, my dear. so important, too, because the world so often screams the opposite message at us all the time- it really takes consciously thinking about this more often than not. its when we start comparing ourselves to other people or the false-beauty of photo-shopped advertisements where we can get ourselves into trouble.
ReplyDeletei think life is about balance, enjoyment, and doing things for your health- and learning to be content while celebrating beautiful you!
thanks for this. xo
I hear you!! It's so frustrating how people act like food is the enemy. If you live a balanced life, you'll be happy. And I think happy people are the prettiest out there!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this. Audrey Hepburn said it best - "A happy girl is a pretty girl." I'm all for being in shape and healthy, but don't you dare take away my chocolate/cupcakes/ice cream away from me! Granted, I still fall under the "skinny is perfect" mindset occasionally, but it's not worth the potential damage we're doing to our bodies.
ReplyDeleteFood is NOT the enemy! And I love all of those inspirational messages :)
ReplyDeleteKate, I just want to hug you right now. This post...I can't begin to explain how much I relate. I definitely don't feel comfortable in my skin right now. And I'm working on it, but it's hard. One of the reasons I took time off from pizzelles is because I've been having some real issues with food lately and I'm still trying to deal with them. One day at a time. I'm definitely learning.
ReplyDeleteI think that should be everyone's goal! You want to be happy with yourself, and whether that means being skinny, fat, or anything in between! I can't believe Kate Moss said that quote though! It sounds pretty ignorant!
ReplyDeletePS LOVE Pinterest! They really do have some GREAT quotes!!!
YES. I refuse to enslave myself to a diet, but I can still eat healthy & feel good about myself!
ReplyDeleteoh this post made me smile. it is so true. I usually am good and nice to myself but since I had a baby 4 months ago I have been extra hard on myself. Needing to be one of those moms that just snaps back into shape and it is not happening. so lately i have been hard on my and not loving. so this post filled me with joy. i hope i remember to stop breath and just be loving next time demons pop up in my head.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Kate, and I'm so glad Brandi steered me over here to read it! What you said is so right. A friend of mine used that exact quote not too long ago and I made the comment that I don't want her to become like Kate Moss now (referring to her past ways around the time, I do believe, that she said that and just hoping that my friend would think of what she'd written) and then I said she must be eating some really horrible tasting food, ha! But.. to no avail. You're so right, we should be sending out the message to EAT food.. lots of food, HEALTHY foods. And to love ourselves because only then will we truly take care of ourselves the way we should.
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