Dishonoring Vows

I appreciate humor as much as the next person and I can definitely relate to not being 100% satisfied by book endings. But how dare you, sir!

I came across a meme (for lack of a better word. I don't know what it's actually called) that was some famous tv show host going on a bout how J.K. Rowling had supposedly said (I've never actually found the interview in which she was supposed to have said this so I have to go with "supposedly")that Harry and Hermione should actually be together. Which, I understand since I've thought that since the beginning. What upset me was his suggestion.

He suggested, no, demanded that another book be written, one in which Harry , after I think it was 10 years, recognizes his true feeling for Hermione , she apparently has always had feelings for him, and they go off together for a night and have an affair.

HOW DARE YOU! "Sir" is too much of a title for you because with a remark like that, you are obviously not a gentleman.

What kind of suggestion is that? What kind of suggestion is it for a husband to abandon his wife and children, even for a night, to break the promises that he made for his marriage in order to satisfy his own personal lusts and vice versa? What kind of twisted suggestion is that?

Part of this suggestion was that in doing so, Harry would "man up." Excuse me, but that is in no way, shape or form any sort of  "manning up." To man up would be if Harry realized that he had these feelings (a little late, don't you think?) and then proceeded to squash them. And why would he do that? Because he would put the needs, especially including the emotional needs, of his family above his own. He would be making a choice to sacrifice his personal desires in favor of preserving his family.

"Manning up" would be for Harry to strengthen his relationship with his wife and to work on loving her more. He would honor her and he would protect her. He would serve her and her would never, ever, do anything to endanger the solid foundation of their marriage. That is "manning up."

What's so important about the fictional life of a fictional character and choices that he didn't actually make? It's a reflection of how our culture and our society thinks. There were people cheering this on and there are people laughing and agreeing with this suggestion. There are people who find it funny. But I cannot. I cannot find the humor in the idea of someone abandoning all of his vows, promises that he swore to honor, to satisfy something so base. Love is grand and good but it is not love that invites you to forsake those you have made promises to.

It was and is not funny to me that someone could think that such an idea was good. It is not. That is simply all there is to it. Breaking promises and dishonoring vows is not to be celebrated and cheered on. It is something that is shameful and that should not be acceptable or encouraged.

How to Contour Your Face And Look Beautiful

"How to Contour Your Face And Look Beautiful"

NO. No. Just no.

Stop it! Stop believing that you have to look a certain way to be beautiful! You're beautiful already (or handsome if you're a guy).

It makes me mad when I come across headlines like the one above. They always show a before and after photo, the former implying that because they're not plastered in make-up, they are not beautiful. Because their cheekbones are not razor sharp and their face perfectly highlighted, they are not beautiful. What a joke. What a stupid, idiotic, sick kind of joke.

I read an article the other day that brought up the idea that the industries that objectify women (fashion, make-up, diets, etc) are not actually perpetuated by men, but by women themselves. The article pointed out that it isn't men who buy the magazines advertising 101 ways to lose weight for bikini season, it's the women. It's those who are the customers and consumers of these industries who are the perpetuators.

I've thought about this before and I'd like to extend this idea to fit all of humanity in general. The people who are truly perpetuating the ideas and myths about appearance and expectations are ourselves! Whenever you find yourself coming up against a social construct about, say, what you should look like, you put it there! You looked at what was around you and you let yourself believe that, despite knowing that the model was probably airbrushed out of existence, you should look like them. You let yourself define your own self-worth in comparison to the world of images around you and held them up every time you looked in a mirror.

It's you who decides if you're skinny enough, if you're comfortable enough, whether you look better with or without make-up. So stop upholding these ridiculous standards for yourselves. If you find yourself dissatisfied with your appearance, first evaluate whether it's a valid concern or not. If it is, fix it! It's okay, even healthy, to compare yourself to your standards but only if that prompts you to do something about it. And I'm not talking strict dieting either. Learn to recognize the signs of your own body. No two bodies are alike so sorry, there's not magic formula for perfection.

So learn to listen to your body and only uphold healthy standards. And love yourself for who you are. Contoured or not, I think you have a beautiful face.

Forum 13B- A Simple Testimony

"Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, [I] love; in whom, though now [I] see him not, yet believing, [I] rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (adapted from 1 Peter 1:8). 

Peter's words are a perfect expression of my testimony. I have not seen Jesus Christ with my own eyes or heard Him preach but I do know Him and I love Him as my Savior and elder brother. I have not had a vision nor have I been visited by angels proclaiming His existence, but I believe that He is there. I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that with a surety that cannot be shaken. I know without a doubt that there is a God in heaven and that reigns benevolently over the Universe. I know that we are loved by God, who has created a plan for the perfection of His children, and Christ, who sacrificed Himself for the sins of the world that all may be forgiven. 

I believe that God has ordained certain laws, not to bind us, but for our protection and guidance. I know that obedience to these laws brings everlasting happiness and enables us to become closer to God. I know that coming closer to God gives us a confidence and peace of mind that is unparalleled by anything else. Just as any parent tries to teach their children the things that they need to know in order to be happy and successful, God has given us instructions that are ultimately for our benefit. I know that God wants us to be close to Him as our Father but that it is our choice to do so. 

We are all part of a loving eternal family and if we understood how much we are individually loved, we would never feel alone again or doubt that there is a God and a purpose to this life. I testify that there is a God in heaven and that there is a purpose to this life. I invite everyone to take a moment to reflect on their relationship with God and consider His love for you and for His other children. I promise that if you truly seek God, He will not be hidden from you and that in seeking Him, you will find your greatest joy.