 |
Abs 2003 versus Abs 2014 |
Many were in agreement with her, and rightly so, and girl's and women should be proud of their bodies ... and in particular their stomachs!
... I was tempted to add "no matter what they look like." But that would kind of defeat the point, non? And there in lies the irony. I mean, if "what you look like" shouldn't be an issue, why make it one? Well when it infiltrates the hearts and minds of seven year old girls then I guess we should stop, step back and think about what signals we're sending out to our kids.
I also stopped, stepped back and wondered: Are we overreacting? A fair question from a seven year old that could have been answered with "No, it's not!" Instead there has now risen this hysteria and women everywhere are posting pictures of their stomachs all over Facebook and Instagram.
A lot of people do seem to be in agreement with the 7 year olds mum on this one (me included) and have been for an awfully long time. From the anorexic modells of the 80's to the voluptuous Anna Nicole Smith in the 90's. But does it warrant this knee-jerk reaction ?
Aren't we all secretly or openly trying to attain or retain a level of inner, physical acceptance? Instagram is full of youths of both sexes, showing off their ripped abs and getting hundreds and thousands of likes. And those of us that aren't doing this, is it because we just aren't that happy with our ab-account? I'm sure that the number of those amongst us who aren't liking the instagrammed abs far outweigh those that bombard us with these images.
Aren't we all guilty of being part of this food chain? For still, high-street posters are full of slim-lined photoshopped models, these models are still being models, and the fashion houses still use them, and we common-and-garden punters still buy the products; So, who are we kidding? Cause if we didn't want it this way, wouldn't we do something about it? Actively, collectively ... in this world of Total Social Media Domination. I don't mean everytime a blogg gets some exposure. I mean a real collective voice, a show of hands. A movement that really does say "ENOUGH!" A Greenpeace devoted to the innocence of Children!
The majority are kind of silent ... and sometimes silence can be a weapon too. A sort of non-recognition of this constant barrage of superhumans showing us just how good they are, Honestly, why bother? Who cares? yet ...
How do you make the statement "Do I look bovvered" (Thanks Catherine Tate) without looking or sounding "bovvered." cos' you wanna kind of get the point across without making a deal about it right? Honestly why are we bothered? Oh yes, the 7 year old girl ... we'll get back to her ...
I hear daily people in the fitness branch preaching this and that, blogging health, fitness and diet and then buying their 2% cottage cheese to go with their apple for lunch. I've seen the Swedish creme get banned from nurserys because of the obesity epidemic that is taking over the country and schools cutting back on physical activity.(someone needs a math lesson here)
Well that improved the situation right? HELL NO! Did someone forget the fact that these hyperactive bundles of humanity actually move a bit during the day and probably burn more kcals in a playground excursion before lunch than most adults do in a working day?
Personally I train like a horse, eat like a pig and shit like an elephant. kcals in - kcals out.
"bah humbug" (google it)
I digress. At this point I stop a moment and remember the words of that wonderful man Hannu whom I met over 15 years ago, when refering to the fact that skin cancer was eating away his face.
(Yeah, you think about that for a while and then make a list of what's important!)
"It's just cosmetics, the importance lies in how you live your life".
Just like Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye" Hannu knew his shit!
12 years ago I had my own battle with cosmetics. Cancer left me with 2 scars that sliced me from pubis to sternum and a stoma scar that I affectionately refer to as Mick. (Due to the resemblance it bears with Jaggers lips) These blights that adorn my torso left me with an asymmetrical stomach and a naval that appears to have been moved 2 inches up and 1 inch to the left. (Check it out above)
Today I can only eat what appears to be semi-puréed food; Anything tougher and I run the risk of entering the local hospital demanding morphine, and if I'm really unlucky, another operation. (As in 2004 when I had to cancel my participation in Vänern runt )
But apart from having a set of scars worthy of a minor shark-attack, I'm sort of ok.
It didn't bother me back in the day if someone commented my wonky abs, or my extra kilos, I had my reasons, as we all do. Had my youngest daughter asked me - "Dad why do you have a 4½ pack" I would have told her about my battle with cancer. I didn't need to though, I kept her informed.
Important note to self when I've finished this post.
"if you spend 1 hour on this blog. Spend 10 hours on your daughter. Remember what's important"
But again, I digress ... Back to the mum. I'm sure that there are many men out there that feel the same as you and sympathise with you aswell. I certainly do, it really is a no-brainer.
The only advice I can offer is accept yourself for who you are, with or without ripped abs and just lay all your good homely values at the feet of your kids and hope that they'll pick some of them up. And for those that have an issue with that, whether they have abs or not... it's their issue, not yours.
To quote the marvelous Anthony Hopkins:
"It's absolutely none of my business what other people think of me"
- said in that wonderfully, silky-smooth Welsh dialect.
He is of course, absolutely right ... it probably helps having a few million in your back pocket but cashflow shouldn't be an issue where self-esteem is concerned and nor should someone else's physically visible abs ... or lack of. Sometimes the fors and againsts are much closer to eachother than we realise. As equally guilty of the same crime but from the other side of the same fence. Are we both wrong, or are we both right?
So --- if you're none the wiser for reading this, or feel a little,
"Hey, what the Four-lettered-word is he going on about?"
That's ok too ... I ain't really that bovvered, and nor should you be. I'm off to McDonalds now ...
OOPS! Forgot The 7 year old?? ... Another day ... laterz xxx
No comments:
Post a Comment