Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

This is a slight continuation from the previous post about fairy tales...but while the title itself and some points addressed are similar, I feel that this is an entirely separate direction from that post.

I have wanted write about this topic for quite some time, but as usual I chickened out or something caught me in a moment and I had to write about it. Also, I didn't know how to write this, so bear with me for the time being...

Image is something that I struggle with. To be honest, I do not like the image I portray, which makes this very difficult to write about because I am writing to myself, as well as others. When I look in a mirror, I am my worst critic. Who isn't? There is always something wrong with how we look. There has to be, or else the world is not revolving. In my case, my weight has steadily increased from my so-called "glory days" of being 5' 11" and 160lbs. I now stand at a heavier, 193 lbs, and while that doesn't seem all that bad...it's the fact that I have reached this point that upsets me. As a traditionalist, I do not like change. And in my resistance towards change, I try all that I can to regain what I once was...physically. In the end my motivation gives way to laziness, thus continuing the cycle that I am on. Not only does my weight upset me, but my hair upsets. I joke about my balding on a frequent basis, but truly, I am upset by it. I used to have quite the head of hair, ask my mother, who is probably going to read this! I was proud of my hair, and as a result of stress placed on me from academics and the "Real World," I have lost a good portion of my hair. That's not all...but those are the two big physical issues at hand...

So why am I, as well as others (probably yourselves?) so addicted to a "Fairy-tale physical embodiment?" Why have issues such as anorexia, bulimia, plastic surgery, etc. channeled our disdain for our mirror image? In a large way, society has placed a heavy burden on image. Nowadays, looking good, meaning looking like a Hollywood movie star who has a 31" waist (guys), gorgeous blonde hair, and chiseled abs can achieve almost anything...from movie roles, corporate jobs, etc. For examples all one has to do is look at the evil-empire of Abercrombie and Fitch and their recent struggles with their supposed "Look Policy." In order to get anywhere, talent, education, and achievement takes a backseat as an amenity to our looks. Now, don't get me wrong, a healthy image is a positive image, but in most cases that is taken way too far.

But we shouldn't blame society entirely. It's human nature. In the Bible, Adam and Eve, following their sin, show shame when confronted by their nakedness before God and each other (Genesis 3:7). It has seemingly been programmed into our lives that we are very image concious. The devil loves this. He loves shame. He loves getting us to hate us. That's how he attacks, because he has "broken" our spirit creating disdain in our lives and the need to classify beauty and rank other human aspects. Its really hard to explain, especially since I am writing as a victim of my own self-hatred.

Physical image is not the only image we judge on a personal level, and of course a societal level. Inner beauty is an even greater mountain to climb, especially when it takes humility, rather than shame, to approach the "summit." (Like that symbolism!?!)

Here are the tough answers we have to accept. We will never be perfect. Just look at the people who routinely get plastic surgery...they always find something wrong. But our imperfection should not be a roadblock in our lives. It should be embraced. We are made in the likeness of God. If we don't like our likeness, then we don't like a creation of God, and to put that further, we don't like the image of God. Which in typing this, suddenly makes sense. I am ashamed of who God made me to be...which is almost like saying I am ashamed of God's creation, and God...which now makes me question whether I want to laugh or cry...the answer is laugh.

I think God would want me to laugh at that revelation, because it allows me to gain some sort of closure with my body issues, and even more, my trust issues with God. And now, as I look at myself, yes, I want to take better care of my body, so I will try to be more healthy. The Bible does say that our bodies are a temple, therefore we should take care of the temple. But I won't look at myself and wonder why, how, and what could've been. When embrace our image, we are able to turn our eyes away from ourselves, and onto the world that is not so fairy tale.

It's not about looking back at yourself. It's about looking out at the world you live in in order to see how you can change it.

Mirror, mirror on the wall...who's the fairest one of all?