Perfect in my Mind

Perfect in my Mind

Saturday, July 2, 2011

I'm a little bit mad.

This week on Pinterest, I saw a lot of people pinning things like this:

And you know what?  It made me kinda mad.  

Where are we going, as a society?  Throughout history, women have been fighting for equality.  Fighting to be taken seriously.  Fighting to have a voice--and for that voice to be heard.

Why then, are women so fixated on their physical appearance?  Why do we torture ourselves to conform to an unrealistic standard of beauty?  When our mind is supposed to be our most compelling attribute, why do care so much about our bodies?

 I admit, I often do things to contribute to this mindset.  I spend a lot of time each day getting ready.  I have spent a lot of energy trying to make my hair, make-up, and style appealing.  I have dieted.  I have exercised more than I needed to.  But, at the end of the day, my physical self is not what makes me happiest. 

Would I be happier if I had six pack abs and a tight butt?  I don't know.  My hunch is no.  I feel like if I am not happy with myself now, I never will be.  So, I just try to be happy with what I've got.

Come on, people.  Life is wonderful.  Life is beautiful.  So, eat the friggin' cookie.

See also:  The Come Back Kid.

25 comments:

Alexis Kaye said...

Amen sister! The cookie is goin in my belly! Seriously though, I agree a thousand percent. I'm a nutrition major and I get SO SICK of people saying "oh, then you can make me skinny" when I tell them. It's not about that. It's about being HEALTHY. It's about loving and respecting your body for all the things it allows you to do. It's the most amazing tool we will ever have. I have a hunch this might be bringing on a body image post soon ;) And I agree. Our blogs are very similar and so different at the same time. We just speak our minds, whatever is on them!

So Yeah So said...

Pinterest has been driving me crazy with the thinspiration lately. I saw a picture of a pillow with "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels" embroidered on it. I wanted to rage. I am a huge lover of food, and I know that people can and do lose weight and stay healthy without depriving themselves completely of food that tastes yummy. I would never have thought to use Pinterest to catalog a bunch of pics of toned and thin women. Well, I do have one pic of Michelle Obama's back but not only do I have it labelled fitspiration but I also just admire her in general, not just her body. I could go on and on about this. Ugh.

Laynah said...

That's all very true, I dont think it's healthy to strive for the perfect model figure because that's just unnatural for most body types. And comparing themselves to said body types will be the downfall of a girls' self esteem.

But at the same time a little motivation doesnt hurt when you ARE trying to eat healthier, right?

Cindy said...

Ah that's perfectly said! I can't agree more, Chelsea...

I feel the same way when women (or even men) act stupid. The women thing especially...it's still hard for women to gain a stronghold in science and it's so weak in engineering and computer science.

Americans have this idea that you can do anything! But you have to be pretty or you're screwed and this applies so heavily on women and how...heavy they are. I love Alexis's comment...diet isn't about making you skinny. It's about making you healthy.

It's ironic that some of the "skinny genes" naturally skinny people have attribute to diseases that obese people have as well. Weight doesn't mean you're healthy in the least bit.

I'll take the cookie.

Anonymous said...

i ate one as i read this, nom nom nom. you're wonderful. :)

Louis Ville said...

Good thoughts Chelsea. It's not right how so much of the media portrays skinny as beautiful. Healthy is beautiful!

Kristen Thornburg said...

I've seen "thinspiration" quotes, too. There are entire websites dedicated to it. Inspiration for not eating... it's awful and horribly sad that women get sucked into it. But at the same time, as a woman, you can't judge because you know how painful it is to live in a world that is so focused on what we look like.

Deveny said...

I read this while eating some good ol' chocolate cake. Amen sister! :) Being healthy & working out just to be a size 2 are two completely different things. I love myself at any size but as long as I know I'm trying to stay healthy I'm totally fine with that.

Laura Eve said...

The media is horrible. I read this article today that i think you'll like, it has some very good and interesting points. Definitely will effect how i talk to others:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/how-to-talk-to-little-gir_b_882510.html?view=print

Unknown said...

beautiful blog
http://mrsjuliajulia.blogspot.com/

karajean said...

I knew a girl who kept the quote "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" taped to her mirror. It made my blood boil. I love when other people recognize what's wrong with this world- and aren't afraid to say it! Thanks!

Musings by Di said...

here-here! well said =)
you just gotta diva it out and be oozing with confidence.that's the hottest look out there and never goes out of style~
xoxo

Unknown said...

I know people who have used that quote as inspiration to get healthy. I didn't like that they used "skinny" but I didn't feel like it was my place to say anything.

Some of the healthiest, fittest people I know don't have supermodel bodies! It's not about that just like all the quotes said.

I've only been on your blog for 5 minutes and I feel better about myself already!

Thanks for finding me so I could find you :)

Cathy said...

You are so right!!!! We have so much pressure on us to look a certain way and be a certain size! I struggle w/ this too!! Thank goodness my identity is in Christ!

Kayla said...

Love this! I think the most important thing is that you feel healthy. If you're jeopardizing your health by your eating habits, that's where you have a problem!

Autumn @ Autumn All Along said...

I would rather eat a cookie than binge later and eat a million cookies.

We focus on being thin so much and not being healthy. Sometimes a product of being healthier is to lose weight, but I know lots of thin people who have horrible blood sugar and pressure and just have skinny genes.

Thanks for sharing.

Kelsey Cole said...

haha. I had a cookie for breakfast this morning:)

and it was delish.

love your blog! following now!
-kelsey
(kelseyandcoveycole11.blogspot.com)

Courtlyn Ash said...

Umm this is perfect! I 110% agree with this post! And the fact that you did post this put a HUGE smile across my face! I hate the fact that the belief for women to be beautiful in our society is (skinny) NO, your beautiful because of who you are as a person, not by the amount of cookies you eat! Your amazing:)

Shay said...

Does this apply to doughnuts too? Cause I just ate 5...;-) Great post!

Courtney B said...

I looooove this!! Thanks for posting girl!
I know I talk about how much I like to eat on my blog, and then I talk about us needing to workout... but I honestly work out to feel healthy. Not to be skinny. Because I'm not. And I've got curves. And I'll never have a 6 pack. And I'm ok with that. As long as I feel gooood and healthy that's all that matters to me.
But how am I going to teach my daughter's that when these skinny things are posted all over the place?! Ah!
p.s. I wish I was addicted to Pinterest. Dumb question...how does it work?
p.p.s. Eric would be scared of me if I had a 6 pack. That would be no bueno.

Lindsay @ Delighted Momma said...

EW! People were posting things like this?? Sad really. Food should be something we enjoy and I agree with you..if you want a cookie EAT it!

MariePhotographie said...

haha, I was just sitting here debating on whether I should go get a midnight snack and then I read "Go eat the friggin' cookie." I think I've found my answer! Cute blog, btw!

Notes She Wrote

McKinley {Haolepinos} said...

OMG I totally agree!!! Why create any more negative relationships with food!?!?! Thank you for sharing!

P! said...

See, THIS is why I ADORE this blog! You are so well-spoken and so dead on! My grandpa always said, "You quit eating, you die." Plain and simple. Indulge. Perfect beach-ready bodies are usually attained the wrong way. My hubby thinks I'm beautiful as I am and that's all that matters to me! FANTASTIC POST!! :D

Elizabeth @ Love Is the Adventure said...

This post makes me sooooooo happy!!!