Image problems?

I realize that I haven't posted anything in a while and I need to get back in the habit of sharing my thoughts on my blog. The holidays certainly did a number on my normal calendar, but they were great just the same. I've got several projects I'm working on at the moment also, so I'm playing the role of juggler here.

Anyway, before I get to tangenting, I wanted to talk about self image. I got to thinking on this topic while Craig and I watched the Victoria Secret's Fashion Show this evening. Craig and I have watched this show every year since we started dating and we're always entertained. We find the costumes and designs to be very creative and fascinating and we also enjoy all of the music.

As we watched the show tonight I kept reading posts from my female friends on Face Book. The show definitely drew a crowd of viewers, but so many of the comments were negative in regards to the poster's own self image. Comments like "I could never be that skinny/tall/beautiful were the prevailing mood, and I became a bit upset seeing all of the negative.

I'm the first to admit that I don't always have a positive comment to say about my body image. I know there are things that I can change, and there are things that I will always live with. A shirt that I like to wear will feel too snug and I'll become dejected. A pair of pants fit too tight and I have nothing to wear. (Not the case ever, as I always have something I can wear, but you know what I mean.) I know these aspects affect me and I also know how to change them. And I also know that I have the power to choose my attitude, and that makes all of the difference.

I have tried a variety of different options in the past to change my image, whether it be a new shade of strawberry blonde hair dye or cutting out all fried foods for a month. Overuse of hair dye made my hair thin out to the point where now I just shave it off, and who am I kidding? I'm always going to have cravings for fried foods.  What I've realized is that it's more important to be concerned with your health than your physical appearance. I've been making small steps toward progress in becoming a healthier person as opposed to a "skinny" person. I know that one effect of choosing healthier options is that I may lose some weight, and that's fine with me. But simply losing weight isn't the goal for me anymore. Being healthy is.

And that's not to say anything negative against people who are skinny. I have many friends who I would qualify as skinny, friends who would fall into the average-sized category, and friends who have some substance to them.  They're all my friends. What makes all of them beautiful isn't the way they look, it's the way their heart projects their soul onto me and the world around them. I've known people who are "pretty" but have a soul as black as the midnight sky. I've known people who'd never enter a beauty contest who radiate warmth and love and joy in every situation they engage in. They are the people who are truly beautiful to me.

I think it's past the time we need to start learning to put more love into our self. When those negative thoughts and voices enter our heads, we need to remember that they're just noise. We're all beautiful people, whether we're models or sewer treatment specialists. It's time that we learn to appreciate the beauty inside, and let that be the image we project to the rest of the world. It's a beautiful thing that should never be hidden.

And in addition to tuning in to model's and fashion shows, let's also make the choice to watch and support those outside of the mainstream fashion world. Volunteer some time at a soup kitchen or with habitat for humanity. Visit a senior center or a youth shelter. You'll get the chance to witness the beauty that comes from within, and the light inside you will glow a little bit brighter too.

As a final thought, to those friends of mine who will read this, you are beautiful! Don't ever let outside forces (or your mind) tell you otherwise. I look at you and know you and see a bright spirit residing in each of you. It's the image I see, and I hope that when you look in the mirror each day it's what you see too.