It's no secret that this generation is obsessed with the way that we look. I mean seriously, scroll through your Facebook, I assure you that you'll see about 1,001 posts about how to get the "Perfect Summer Body" or tips on how to "Feel Better at the Beach."
While all of those things are perfectly fine, we shouldn't let them warp our sense of worth. Have you ever sat down and thought, "hmmm, I dig the way I look?" Yeah? I know I have.
I don't have the perfect body by societal standard, nowhere close. I am about 5'2" tall, weighing in somewhere in the neighborhood of 160 pounds. I have a fed little tummy and some pretty pudgy thighs, and you know what, I love them! Safe to say...my cup runneth over. Sure, I acknowledge some room for self-betterment, and I could workout more than I do because it's the healthy thing to do. I could skip the fast-food line and pack a healthy lunch now and then. I love my life; I want to keep living it as long as I can. Understanding your shortcomings doesn't have to equate to self-shaming yourself for looking like you do.
We've all heard the term body-positivity floating around everywhere, and there is importance therein. Very simply put, it is the idea that all bodies can be beautiful, worthy of acceptance, and equally valuable. This idea is usually reserved for people, women in particular, who find themselves being bigger than the "accepted" physique. So often, smaller men, smaller women, bigger men, or even individuals with different proportions are excluded. It's so easy to unintentionally overlook subgroups when respectfully focusing on positive change. Easier than that, people are quick to discount the plight of smaller women. In the height of this body-positivity, you will hear discourse like "real men like curves" or "bones are for dogs." Both of which are ridiculous; a man likes the person he finds himself attracted to non-contingent on body-type.
I want to promote an alternative view, if I may: How about all bodies being seen as beautiful, acceptable, and valuable based on the souls that inhabit them? How about stop worrying about what other people look like in comparison to the media, or we stop worrying about how we look in comparison to other people?
Let's focus on being happy with the person that we are. Rather than obsessing over our physical body, we should work on holistically bettering the persons we are mentally, physically, and emotionally. Nourish your body with the food it needs, interest yourself in things that create discussion, and connect yourself with whatever community fulfills you spiritually. Just take care of yourself, all of you.
