After a brief stay in the hospital, I revived a habit I thought I’d kicked nearly a year ago – watching television. I have nothing against television, but I have a tendency to get hooked on Law & Order SVU or Criminal Minds marathons. In fact, I wasted the entire weekend watching television.
I learned a lot from my weekend TV binge. For example, did you know that cheek sagging is a HUGE problem in America? Oh, yes. There’s nothing worse than sagging cheeks. Well, unless you count cellulite, wrinkles, gray hair, or any of the evils brought on by natural aging. Thank goodness there is now a pharmaceutical fix for sagging cheeks. Because, you know, looking your age is the worst thing that could possibly happen to you.
The number of beauty and weight loss ads on television is astronomical. Wrinkle removers, age spot erasers, cellulite busters, and breast enhancers.
I know these types of posts have been done again and again. I get that some people are probably sick of hearing about it. But I think we need to keep talking about it until something changes. Do we blame the cosmetic companies? Fashion? Media? Personally, I don’t want place blame on anyone. I just want to tell people this:
You. Are. Perfect.
You are perfect just the way you are. Shave your legs. Or don’t. Wear makeup. Or don’t. Do what makes you feel good, but do it for the right reasons. Lose weight for your health, not because someone else says you don’t look the way you’re supposed to. Celebrate your curves – or lack thereof. Celebrate you.
Everyone has value. Your value doesn’t increase or decrease according to your bra size or a number on the scale. “Real women” are fat, skinny, muscular, or any way they want to be. “Real men” shouldn’t be judged by how time they spend in the gym, or by their weight, height, or bulk.
It’s up to us to define our femininity or masculinity. No one has the right to do that for us. Regardless of our sex, gender-identity, or age, we are all in this crazy life together. Let’s support each other. Let’s stick together by refusing to share Facebook memes that say, “Real women have curves.” Refuse to share the pictures that shame people for their weight, wardrobe, or hairstyle.
Show our family, our friends, and the advertisers that we are more than our appearance. We are more than our bodies. We are already perfect.
If you haven’t seen this video by Colbie Caillat, I’d love to share it with you. I cried the first time I watched it. It touched my heart. I hope it will touch yours.
All I Have to Say 
I’m not perfect. But then, none of us are. We’re all, ALL, just flawed human beings. Like everyone else on the planet. But, hey, we do the best with what we’ve got. So, yes, you’re right, Tricia. Let’s celebrate that we’re alive, imperfect as we are, and just get on with living.
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You’re absolutely right, Geraldine. Life is something to celebrate!
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Reblogged this on Swamp Sass and commented:
I am very concerned about women’s rights. This video is great. I hope every woman sees it.
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Thank you for reblogging this post. 🙂
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I was happy to do it. I’ve had several comments already. 🙂
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Lovely, Tricia! Thank you!
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🙂
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Great article, Tricia.
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Thanks, Kate.
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Well put, Tricia! And no shaving of my legs today 🙂 Perfection.
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Lol, I am eventually getting through all the glorious things I missed from last week and I’m SOOOOO pleased I didn’t miss this one! WOW! And YES YES YES!!!! As a woman of a certain weight and age, with lumps and bumps, imperfect skin, thin mousy hair, bitten nails and a habit of sweating profusely when I’m very nervous, not to mention my bad eyesight and slight lisp, it’s so so lovely to actually hear someone being positive about REAL women. Women who don’t have to be ashamed if they have one stray hair on their perfectly hairless bodies, women who have the odd skin outbreak, or whose hair isn’t perfectly voluminous, shiny and with the right kind of ‘bounce’, women who are REAL. Yes, we are out there, the ignored, the marginalised, the teased, the offended. We have a right to exist and be beautiful in our own way. Thank you for this Tricia, I’m just getting ready for work and this has most definitely put a spring in my step! 😀 xxxxxx
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I guess no one is perfect, but I prefer to believe we ALL are. Who’s to say what perfection really means anyway? We all have our little quirks that make us unique. Women and men feel such pressure to fit in or to follow a certain standard, but why should we? If we’re good, honest, kind people, why does it matter how we look? It doesn’t. There’s so much more to be human than our outward packaging. I’m glad you’ve got an extra spring in your step. You’re a lovely person inside and out.
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Lol, you are so sweet honey and totally totally right. And yes, you are also a lovely beautiful person inside and out. Here’s to perfection! 😀 xxx
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..wonderful post… well done, m’Lady 🙂 should be mandatory reading for ALL men, women, teenagers…:) LUV IT!
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I had no idea sagging cheeks were a problem. i did know that not-white teeth were, though :p I admit, I watch TV on netflix and hulu so I miss most of the ads, LOL!
Great post though!
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You’re not missing anything by missing the ads. 🙂
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