Lately it’s everywhere, or maybe it’s always been everywhere and I’m just paying more attention these days. The same way I’m paying more attention to my weight as summer approaches and the clothing gets shorter.
But in the past month I feel like it’s been in my face, weight and women and society. It sounds like a terrible college course, doesn’t it? And I’m sure, enough has been said about it that it could fill a class.
In the past month I’ve heard on GMA, that the average American woman is a size 14, that a size 4 cheerleader was called “too chunky to cheer” and the CEO of Abercrombie and Fitch doesn’t want fat people in his store.
And it makes me angry. Why is a woman’s size newsworthy? Why is some ass backwards CEO’s thoughts on weight making headlines?
Why are we being told over and over again that we aren’t good enough. That we are too fat or too thick, that our thighs are big or that we haven’t lost the baby weight and so on.
Why are we telling women that they need to fit in a size 4 world when clearly most of the population is never going to be a size 4, and that is OK.
I have friends who don’t want pictures taken cause they feel chubby. And friends who have perfected the art of looking skinny in pictures. I have friends who exercise and diet into oblivion. I have so few friends who are just happy with how they are. Who aren’t criticizing themselves or running in circles trying to maintain.
I don’t have a single friend who isn’t beautiful. My friends come in all shapes, sizes, ethnicity’s and they are all beautiful. They are good friends, great mothers, hard workers, successful and smart. They make me laugh and smile and they make me proud to call them mine.
I’m sure you have friends like this too. And I’m sure your friends see you in the same light. I’m sure they don’t see the extra pounds or the flabby arms, they see you.
The same way my husband sees me, when at 7:30 this morning he felt it necessary to take my picture. And I protested cause I’m not a morning person, I wasn’t looking pretty. And he said, “you’re always pretty to me”
And for a moment I questioned it. How could anyone find me pretty at 7:30 am, I don’t even like me at 7:30 am.
But that’s the thing ladies, our husbands, our friends, our children and our families think we are beautiful, even if society and ourselves tell us we are not. And those are the people that count. Those are the things that matter, not a dress size or a number on a scale.
And I think the quickest way to a healthy life is to realize that you are enough, just as you are. And if we can all learn to like ourselves the rest will follow.
Appreciate you sharing on this topic and I couldn't agree more that it begins when we learn to love ourselves just as we are! Found you via "Things I Can't Say" link up. Glad I did.
Thank you and I'm so glad you stopped by
Fantastic observations all around. And what a blessing to have the husband who says you always look beautiful to him. Glad I popped over.
Thank you for stopping by I'm lucky to have him.
Yes, yes! Love this!
My husband always thinks I'm pretty. And my boys do, too. That's all I need.
Thanks Shell : )
We are conditioned into thinking we are never good enough.
Sometimes, we need to see ourselves in the eyes of others.
Lovely post, Julia.
Thank you, we do need to see ourselves through others eyes.
Julia, you wrote this SO well and exactly how I wish I could have written it if I would have sat down to express myself. This has been heavy on my mind lately too for many reasons including my own self esteem and how I want my daughter to see herself in the years to come, etc.
THANK YOU for this and for putting it out there because we ARE all beautiful to those who love us and in our own right.
xoxo
Elaine, I am so glad that you enjoyed this. Thank you for your kind words.
Super fantastic post on one of my favorite topics. You really nailed it.
Thank you Jennifer.
Powerful and important. Thank you for writing about this, and so transparently.
Thank you Galit, it was actually one of the easiest posts to write cause I believe every word. We are all beautiful.
Wait! Where's the picture??? 🙂
Hi, Elaine sent me here and I'm glad she did. I'm one of the ones who is too chubby for a photo and I'm working really hard on changing my self image so I can love myself as is.
And oh, 7:30 in the morning! That is catastrophic. 🙂
It's on my hubs phone but I think it's mostly of my hand as I was trying to hide. If I find it I may post it. Take pictures of yourself even if not just for you but for your family, they will appreciate it and so will you.
Amen! I am a girl and of course I want to look good but I've realized that when I put my focus on things that matter, truly matter, I don't have the time to worry about my looks. I love that I don't pick myself apart anymore. It's a good feeling.