Sometimes it really bothers me that we live in such an appearance-obsessed culture. Every day there are articles detailing why this person is so great because of their choice of clothing or hairstyle for that day. Or why this person needs to quit wearing *gasp* mom jeans! Or what in the world were they thinking by stepping outside the house that way?
I will admit, I am often amused by the “what were they thinking?” articles. At the same time, it bothers me too. I don’t want people to judge me only because of how I look, and I would hope that I have the grace to extend others the same courtesy.
It’s not all bad because it does encourage people to take an active interest in how they look. It’s important to take care of yourself and try your hardest to look your best. I’m a strong supporter of that idea.
What I don’t like is when looking your best becomes an obsession, when it becomes your sole focus. Because you feel the press to look and act a certain way. It puts beauty into a little box that only an exclusive club of people can ever reach. And so many spend their lives trying to make their ideal of beauty.
It’s sickening really.
What I’ve spent most of my life learning, while I tried to fit into this self-imposed notion of beauty, is that to be truly beautiful, I need to accept myself. I have to find my own definition of beauty and learn to be okay with it.
That doesn’t mean I have to be the type of beautiful that culture tells me I need to be. It means I must be my own kind of beautiful. For example, I am a curvy girl. When God made me, He gave me hips. It doesn’t matter how much weight I lose … I’m still going to have hips. But that’s what makes me who I am, right? And curvy girls are beautiful girls. 
This idea seems simple, but at times it’s very hard to remember. Then I find myself obsessing once again and trying to be the beautiful others say I should be.
Until I take a step back and remind myself that I am beautiful because of who I am, not because of how I look. And that means embracing the curves! You should try it sometime. It’s very liberating.
4 comments:
I love this post Tammy. I hate that our society puts so much emphasis on outward appearance. It's exhausting to always be worrying about how we look. I love you. You are beautiful!
I once had a doctor tell me "You're obviously beautiful so why not lose all the weight and show it!" I was dumbfounded! How could you say I'm beautiful and then demand that I change my appearance. I know I'm not perfect but Heavenly Father (and I'm pretty sure my hubby) think I'm more beautiful than anything and that's all that matters! Same goes for you :)
You are every kind of beautiful, Tammy dear. Inside and outside. You are just lovely!
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