Spring Break
Body size does not determine one's worth
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Even though I lack the motivation required to give up sugar, dairy, carbohydrates or whatever the newest trend calls for, I can’t help but think that simply owning a blueprint to thinness will drastically lower my bathing-suit anxiety.
By my reasoning, if I lost 15 pounds, my life would be perfect.
This sort of thinking led to weeks of stressing out about wearing a bridesmaid’s dress for my friend’s wedding. I lost a grand total of one pound before the big day.
Almost every woman I know is relentless in finding fault with her body.
One friend of mine is self-conscious about being flat-chested, while another has concerns about her butt being too big.
Then there is a young woman who won’t wear skirts because she thinks her calves and ankles are fat.
I’m telling you, distorted body image is a widespread disease, and I’m on a mission to find the cure.
As with almost everything, perception is key.
One must remember that magazines were originally created as a venue for advertisers. Many popular women’s magazines end up making the reader feel inadequate.
They peddle products and showcase models as the standard of beauty.
Cindy Crawford has said, “You have to realize that (before) two hours of hair and makeup, even I don’t look like Cindy Crawford.”
My suggestion would be to cancel all subscriptions and turn off the television as well. Every show is spliced with commercials illustrating unrealistic women selling unnecessary products.
Since we won’t be filling our minds with junk food for the brain, we will have some time to contemplate the more important things in life, such as our relationships with family members and friends.
We may realize that we are more than our bodies. They are a part of us, but they don’t define us. Our intelligence, our humor and our sensitivity do not lie in our dress size.
The friend of mine who thinks she has a generous behind recently, without even trying, dropped 10 pounds.
Although she said some of her clothes fit better, the rest of her life remained the same.
Her job is the same. Her relationships are the same. Her beliefs are the same.
My friend isn’t the type of person to tolerate conditional affection based on her measurements.
No one loves her more because she weighs less.
Skinniness does not equal happiness.
Yet, the practice of measuring worth by the pound has become so ingrained in our society that it seems normal.
On an animalistic level, for us to look in the mirror and despise what we see is completely unnatural.
No other creature does this. No other creature dissects itself into pieces to be scrutinized and valued individually.
Besides, we can’t get on with the business of living if we’re preoccupied with how we look in our jeans.
I have often thought that if my only dying wish were to be a size four, God would tell me I had missed the point.
Christina Lucarotti is a Spartan
Daily Senior Staff Writer.
“Confession” appears Tuesdays.
