I came home yesterday and switched on Dr. Phil to see what nonsense they were discussing. I don't watch Dr. Phil much anymore. He used to be my favorite after-school transition show. I'd drink coffee and see what the rest of the world had been doing while I was locked up with five year olds. He'd have some good parenting advice or an informative guest. But now that he's gone with the "Jerry Springer philosophy" that sensational sells, I just don't have much respect for him. Not much advice or sound counsel anymore- just lots of yelling and excitement. So about five minutes was all I needed before retreating to the computer to check my email.
Yesterday's guest had zero tolerance for "ugly people". What?? Besides the fact that I was watching her and thinking "Honey, do you own a mirror? Do you know you look like the most average, ordinary person in the world?", I kept wondering why we focus so much on how people look. It's all around us- from articles about how to look like a model, to shows about plastic surgery. The woman on Dr. Phil had her own ideas about how people should look, dress, talk, etc. Why should I care what she thinks? Why is she even on Dr. Phil??
When Gary and I were first married I met a friend of the family who had been in a terrible car accident. Half of her face was just scars. She still managed to have a family and friends and a full life. She has been a constant reminder to me that who we are and what we do is far more important than what we look like. If our looks are all we have to get us through life, then we are sure taking a risk! Looks can be damaged by anything and everything from sunshine to lifestyle to car accidents to disease. What a shaky foundation for a life!
Women are far more vulnerable to the pressures of society. We are far more likely to fall into the trap of worrying about the way we look. We are constantly told that whatever we are doing isn't good enough. For every person who is upset with Mrs. Clinton's national policies, there is no doubt another person trashing her hair or her clothes. I seldom hear anyone say "Did you see the tie he was wearing?" Different standards, different expectations.
I could ramble on for another thirty minutes, but I have to take my old ugly self to school and try to teach my children that their minds are more important than their bodies. Have a great day!
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