Today we are bombarded in every way with body image. Being a fitness instructor for twenty-eight years, I now hear more than ever about a client’s grandchild saying “Nana, you have stuff hanging under your arms”! It is sad that such media play exposes such unnecessary attitudes as this to our future generations. Is that all we want them to dwell on instead of making important decisions in life? As a child, I was more interested in finding a nest or building a ‘fort’ with my friends. I never remember looking at my happy grandmother and thinking what big arms she had.
Is it not our responsibility to teach our children and grandchildren what is important and what is polite? There is no way to escape the madness of our ‘looks is everything’ internet/media society, but there are teaching tools for guiding a young person beyond the appearance of things. Use them. The future is up to our teaching methods for these young folks.
What ‘good’ (well-meaning people) do not understand is that this type of visual/verbal media takes time away from the mind to create, enjoy, live. We become scared of the mirror. The mirror is a tool, not a vanity glass. I make my living helping people become fit, not skinny or compulsive.
Until I came upon a time in my life when I faced a traumatic health issue, did I sincerely be truthful about the way I felt about my body. There is always a window of time until a medical diagnosis. This window is a time in life for doubt and questioning what is life’s important priorities. For me there was a chance in a hemi-pelviotomy. This is the removal of the pelvic girdle and legs. I found a book on this topic and read how others had lived and thrived through this experience. These people had taken this chance to begin to live full and productive lives. I call that fabulous. It was then I let down my hang-ups and relaxed about my body-type. I had to result in what some people would call drastic measures such as not owning a TV and relying on radio for news, not reading most magazines on the newsstand that emphasized women issues, etc. I don’t say this is for everyone, but for me it worked and has for twenty years.
If we really are the kind and genuine people we say we are, we should look at a person’s expressions, view their actions, and see their intentions toward others. Notice how you feel when you see good friends approach you; unless you are so media- brainwashed and unhappy with your own self, do you pick their appearance apart.
I treasure my friends approaching as I know we look in admiration at each other.
Sagging glute, so what!
Soraya Parr
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