07/10/2024
This one's for the girls:
Ok, ladies, we have all likely heard the saying that girls don't get dressed up for guys; they get dressed up for other women. In other words, in most cases, from the minute we leave the house, we are immersed in a beauty competition. Whether we like it or not, there is often an unspoken pressure to look our best and compare ourselves to others. Each time we look at another woman, we either judge her or ourselves. After my dad died, I gained about 30 pounds. While I am still in my weight range and my BMI is normal, I am still at the top of that range. I find myself constantly comparing my body to other women's—you know, the 20–30 somethings that look great in crop tops and bikinis feeling self-conscious and insecure. Likewise, when I run into someone who may not look as put-together, I somehow feel better about myself. Now this confession of mine may not apply to you, or, for that matter, to every woman out there. I could go on and on about the judgments I make, mostly about myself. It's a common struggle many women face, feeling the pressure to measure up to unrealistic standards of beauty. So my advice is: Stop it! I know it is easier said than done, right? Embrace some of the things you judge others for; go to Walmart in your pajamas, which feels totally liberating, by the way. Better yet, go to the movies dressed for bed and carrying a blanket. Let's focus on being kind to ourselves and others instead of constantly comparing and judging. Doing this will help make our own world more positive and a better place to live. Instead of wasting time creating this hostile environment, we can focus on truly changing the world for the better.
