I am not my hair, my skin, my face



I love me some Idie.arie. She speaks truth eloquently in many, many ways. The song I Am Not My Hair resonates loudly for me today. For one, after reading my daughter, Apricot's blog, I was shocked at the callousness that advertisers (some of them) have adopted to gain sales. Do they realize that little girls are now struggling with self-esteem issues?

I interviewed a well known celebrity that told me that her niece is 8 years old and thinks she's fat and has asked her how to lose weight. When I worked at the elementary school, I had a little one that was 5 years old who wouldn't eat because she was afraid she was going to be "fat" like her mommy. The mom came into the office, distraught and crying because she was beside herself with what to do to get her to eat. The little one had cookies, candy, fruit, yogurt, cheese, pretzels...anything offered to her and she'd say, "No thank you." Finally it came down to telling her that she's got to pick one item and eat over half of it. That's SAD!!!!

My beautiful niece thinks that she's not pretty because her hair isn't long and "straight" like Beyonce's and the rest of the weave wearers. She is very tiny yet, her peers are all on starvation diets so she feels guilty eating so she doesn't. What is up here???

I was at the doctor's office today because of my sniffing, sneezing, snorting, issue and there was a lady in the office who had cancer. Her hair was finally starting to grow back. She said (which totally shocked me) that if she was told that she could have 6 more months to live if she had treatments that caused her to lose her hair, she would rather die. What?????? She'd rather die than spend 6 more precious months with her family and friends?

I'm sorry but as much as I believe that I have plenty of weight to lose. I don't like my face quite a few mornings when I get up. I hate, hate, hate that I have keloids (another post, another day) but I am who I am and I love that I am here to not worry about the outside of me as much as I am more concerned about the insides. I don't look at people by the size they are, the color of their skin or even the texture or length of their hair. I love, appreciate, embrace, cherish those people in my life because of the beauty they possess on the inside.

If I'm wrong...please tell me why you think I'm wrong in feeling the way I do.

Comments

Christine said…
WOW .... what an inspiration. I am so glad that I stopped in here today.
I have looked in the mirror this week, and did not like what I saw (all self-esteem issues).
It is such a shame what out media has done to our children.
March 26, 2009 at 4:56 PM
skywind said…
Oh, now the beauty and technology, especially developed, after some hours, it becomes a stranger. LOL
Health information
Humor & Fun World
March 26, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Deb said…
You are sweet...that is why I like you so much.
March 26, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Mariah said…
This is such a great reminder--lets all concentrate on our inner beauty more than the outer bull
March 26, 2009 at 5:57 PM
Cinder Rail'lee said…
your so right. My aunt died last May of Breast Cancer. Her whole side of the family shaved their heads (her kids, husband, brothers, and their children) I hadn't known, if I had I would have shaved my head, and not cared.. just for her to have 6 months left with her 1st grand daughter. How superficial people have become. SAD isn't it?
I love your motto.
and I quote

I don't look at people by the size they are, the color of their skin or even the texture or length of their hair. I love, appreciate, embrace, cherish those people in my life because of the beauty they possess on the inside.

^5 I admire you!
HuGZ
Tami
March 26, 2009 at 5:59 PM
Rosemary said…
Hello, what a great posting. You are not wrong at all with your point of view. We are all unique and beautiful creatures and there is no one else quite like each of us. When you look at it like that, whether you feel there is a divine spirit or not, it makes you appreciate yourself a little bit more.

I'm very concerned at how early now girls are feeling pressure to be a type - to fit in - to be sexy, pretty, etc. Their childhoods are being taken away from them. I remember running and playing and getting dirty and not caring a bit until I got home and Mom made me wash up. I didn't get all caught up into the pretty game until probably junior high age. I wouldn't have changed it for the world, I loved being a child for as long as I was.

Excellent posting - BRAVA
March 26, 2009 at 9:21 PM
Tana said…
Thank's for visiting my blog! I cherish every breath the Lord gives me! Hair or no hair I want more precious life! :)
March 27, 2009 at 9:27 AM
Nana said…
It's sad but we live in a society that is SO obsessed with appearance. As much as I would love to say that I haven't fallen into this vicious cycle, I must admit that I have always worried about my weight,my hair, my clothes...
I feel like if I look good on the outside, it adds on to feeling good on the inside. I think Im confident right now, but maybe tomorrow, I will find yet another flaw?
March 27, 2009 at 4:00 PM
Ryan Ashley Scott said…
I find it comforting to know that celebrities are airbrushed to perfection. No one looks that good. Unfortunately, kids don't understand or care - they just want to be like celebrities. It's awful and I have so much respect for Jamie Lee Curtis because she speaks out against this and actually went "natural" for the public to see. More celebs should do this, but they won't. It's sad.
March 27, 2009 at 5:22 PM
Julie D said…
And that, my friend, is why we love YOU.
March 28, 2009 at 7:34 AM
wendz said…
well said! unfortunately physical perfection is constantly pushed in our faces to the point where people just don't delve any deeper. Very sad. I say 'take me or leave me' - but it the inside that counts.
March 28, 2009 at 11:32 AM
travel girl said…
A very good friend of my had breast Cancer. Her boobs and hair were her thing. She had the most beautiful, natural boobs. her hair was also goregous, blond and a full head of hair.

during chemo, when the hair started falling out, I asked her the question because I know she is as vain as I am. I know I certainly would be upset to lose my hair but I don't think I would refuse treatment. So anyway, I asked her how she felt about losing her hair. She told me "Pissed off! But I want to live so I'm willing to lose it to gain my life. But, if I die, shoot the f**king Doctor because now i will definitely look like shit for my funeral" We laughed for hours:)
March 28, 2009 at 6:42 PM
LunaMoonbeam said…
You're definitely not wrong...but what do we do? It's not ENTIRELY the media's fault that we have an entire (few??) generation(s) with no semse of their individual worth or divine nature. So sad...
March 29, 2009 at 1:48 AM
Veronica Lee said…
I thought I had earlier commented on this post but apparently I didn't publish it successfully. I'm brain-dead!
I just wanted to say I think you are a wonderful person.
BTW, do you happen to be a crab-lover? Hehehe
March 29, 2009 at 5:02 AM
Sheila said…
Such an inspiration!!! Thank you for sharing!!!
March 30, 2009 at 6:06 PM
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