A few years ago I was sitting on the couch watching T.V. when a commercial for Victoria’s Secret came on. Normally I reach for the clicker, but since I was all alone I let the commercial play.
Big mistake. In under 30 seconds I felt terrible about myself. Just moments before I was completely UNself-conscious, now I felt like a fat slob. I reached for another Oreo and wondered, “How can a 30 second commercial make me feel SO inadequate?”
The power of those airbrushed images of women with beautiful, plastic bodies was staggering! Suddenly, what I WAS was not enough. I was not beautiful enough. I was not skinny enough. I was not immune to gravity enough (which doesn’t even make sense!). My hair was not full enough. My eyelashes were not long enough. My undergarments were not sexy enough. I was inadequate in every sense of the word, in my mind.
So I fought back with the only tool I had available- I posted a snarky remark on Facebook about how much I hate Victoria’s Secret for making me feel so disgusted with myself. I only received a few comments, but the one from my brother-in-law still sticks in my head. He simply said, “But Josh thinks you’re pretty great.” And that’s all I needed to hear. I only needed to be reminded that my loyal husband was the only one I wanted to please. And never once has he complained about my figure.
It’s true, I am not what I was when I was 16 years old. But then neither is Josh. One time when I was complaining about how Motherhood had changed me, my husband casually asked me, “Which kid would you like to exchange for your youthful figure?” That brought me back to reality. I go back to this powerful thought over and over again in my battle against the images that the world tries to convince me to strive for. I will never look like a Victoria’s Secret model, but my husband and children are not complaining. So I should quit being so hard on myself. After all, there’s more to me than the image in the mirror.
Hi April…two thoughts….your hair is definitely full enough 🙂 I love your hair! Josh’s reply was perfect.
Thanks Rose. 🙂
Yes, I love you just the way you are.
Thanks Babe! You’re a good man.
Amen! And April? Those “models” have got nothin’ on you!!!
Thanks! 🙂