A Rant of Epic Proportions!

Aha! You thought I'd mess up again, didn't you? I admit, I almost did. It was my kid brother's birthday, and I was at my parent's house, so sue me for being a good sister.

Anyway, on to the post.

On my mind this evening was going to be my general philosophy about life: Live and let live. Instead, thanks to Hubby, I am reminded of a complaint I have. The unrealistic ideals of beauty in modern Western culture.

It's not his fault really. It wasn't like he saw some hot actress and said, "Gee, Honey, Why don't you look more like her?" or some other thoughtless remark. (Actually, Hubby is nowhere near that thoughtless, and he has never made me feel anything less than the gorgeous, radiant goddess I am. Even when I'm sick and wearing my old sweats.) All he did was change the station on the radio.

So, my husband hates commercials. With a burning passion I only seldom witness in him. He's really not a burning passion kind of guy. Which is why I love him so. He keeps me level-headed, but that's a whole other post. Anyway, as we were driving home, I had flipped on my favorite station. I love this station so much, I do not usually change it, even during commercials. But, the deal is, Hubby thinks the radio is for music, and talking is a waste of time. So, he changed the station.

I listened to ear-blistering eighties music for a while, cause that's what Hubby likes. I prefer classic rock myself, but occasionally the eighties station will play something decent. Anyway, we got home, and another round of commercials started. This time, he didn't switch the channel, since we were pulling into the parking lot, and I heard a dieting commercial. I forget exactly what charlatan's scam the commercial ws for, but it featured two women talking. And one of them said something to the effect that she'd been strggling with her weight since she was a pre-teen.

WTF!?

Sure, when I was eleven, I was a little disappointed that I was heavier than the other girls, but I didn't do anything crazy like take diet pills or starve myself. For the record, I am still overweight, but working to change that. Right now, I weigh 250 pounds. It is very hard for me to admit it, but I figure if I'm gonna diatribe, I'd best be honest. It is my goal to lose one hundred pounds by this time next year. That averages out to about two pounds a week. I am not doing this because I subscribe to some narrow-minded conception of feminine beauty. I am doing it for myself, and for my future family.

When I have children, they deserve to have the best mom in the world. They deserve to have a mom who is not always tired. They deserve a mom who they will not be ashamed of. They deserve someone who will be able to get on the floor and play with them. Someone who can show them cool things, besides just what's on T.V. Someone who can ride rollercoasters, pick them up and carry them, and someone who will be there when they graduate high school, get married, and have children of their own. I don't want to be unhealthy. I don't want to wory that my high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease will 'get me' one day when I least suspect it. Not that I have any of those things now, but I know that if I continue on the path I'm on, only bad can follow.

So, to hell with these twig-women! I will not have my daughter look up to empty-headed flower vases, women who are only good for decoration. She will see that being smart and being attractive are not mutually exclusive. I swear, on my honor, that I will give her more to look up to than the beauty queens. I will give her the idea that women are more than the makeup and clothes they wear. That their value is not tied to numbers; be it weight, age or how much their clothes cost.

Anyway, all of this hollywood tripe is ridiculous. Why can't women in films look like real women? I know of three and four year olds who worry about being fat. That's so sad. I know some people will say that it's the parents' fault for letting their daughters see such things, but it's everywhere. If you want to spare your daughter, you'd have to keep her isolated from the world. This garbage is on every billboard, every channel, and in every movie theatre. The best you can do is supply your daughters with other role models. Strong women, who are known for more than their faces and figures. Women who excel in literature, sports, science, art, math, and other fields.

Of course, you can't change everyone, and it would be a fool's errand to try. I only hope that by teaching my daughter these things, and by sharing my opinions with others, that I can make some small change in the world.

<3
Mo
250 lbs. and radiant.