Body Image

Why are we, humanity I mean, obsessed with celebrities and especially with what they look like? Why do so many news stories and magazines have celebrities splashed across their pages? And why, oh, why are there so many diets, fads, and even affections fixated on celebrities?

Celebrities are not show dogs, to be walked around and judged and valued based on their appearance. They are people. PEOPLE. Famous people, yes, but people nonetheless. So why do we care what famous people look like in their swimsuits? Or what their dress size is? Or how much they weigh?

I can understand being concerned from someone's health on either end on the spectrum of size and weight, but other than concern for their health, why do we care so much about what famous people look like?

As far as I can tell, the reason their appearances matter so much to us is that they become a standard by which to measure ourselves. But why? What is the point?

Bodies are such incredible, almost magical things. I mean, think about it. Think about all of the functions that your body performs endlessly without you even being aware of them. Aerobic and anaerobic respiration, hemoglobin carrying oxygen through your bloodstream-oxygen that your lungs previously filtered out of the air you breathed in. All of the muscles that work together when you move or speak or sing. All of your brain functions and your heat beating and I could just go on and on. Even having the combined knowledge of hundreds of years of study, our best scientists still don't understand everything about how the body works.
The body is absolutely amazing.

I think that when we look at our body with a sense of disgust, shame, or a longing for it to be more like someone else's, we are being disrespectful and ungrateful. We are devaluing the miracle that our bodies are in favor of envying someone who probably, no definitely, isn't secure about what they look like either. We are saying that there is only one kind of beauty and we putting up a false standard for perfection.

Take care of yourself. Be healthy and enjoy being attractive. But stop looking at yourself and feeling shame. You are in control of yourself. If you think your health habits need a change, change them! Learn to look at yourself realistically. You are not perfect. But neither are the people in the gossip magazines or the people in the movies or the people making headlines. Instead of wishing that you looked different than you do, learn to appreciate the individual wonders of having a body.

I've heard a lot said about the objectification of women. But I think that the issue is more about the objectification of the body, whether is is male or female. Each person deserves to be looked at for who they are, not for what they are encased in. So please make sure that when you admire someone's looks, you look at them as more than a body. And please, the next time you find yourself distressed by your own appearance for whatever reason, stop cheapening something amazing and remember how incredible you and your body are. You. Are. Amazing! Remember that.

Love,
Elicia