C: Vanity, Vanity; All is Vanity

chasing the wind The Book of Ecclesiastes has some wisdom in it, you know….

I ran across this Dove Evolution video, which has been around a couple of years now.  It contains a great message that chasing the image of beauty which advertising and popular culture burns into our brain is, indeed, a chasing after the wind.

Believe me, having your husband leave you for someone 30 years younger will make you consider cosmetic surgery, but I discarded that idea fairly immediately.  Why?  The only possible reason I could think of in my particular status to do it was to try to snag a man, and I wasn’t even fishing.  Besides, there’d have to be too much surgery—once started with that number-one priority (the double chin…), I’m afraid I’d try to work my way down, as it were. 

So, I’ll stay as I am, for the moment. 

I hasten to add that I am talking about ME, here, at this time. I have friends who have had cosmetic surgery with great results and for good reasons--no judgment, here--and I'm not counting it out for me in the long run. But I don't need to do it to try to meet some standard that is false, and I think the larger issue here is not surgery, any way, but realties and the need to find ourselves good, solid ground on which to base our self-esteem.

When you watch this video, you’ll see that even supermodels, blessed with “good bones” and high metabolism need the help of cosmetic artists and photoshop to attain the status of “model” of beauty for us all:

Yes, I love the message of this video: that there needs to be more to our self-esteem than outward appearance (notwithstanding the prevailing message) and that the bar has been set unrealistically high, anyway.  In other words, it’s a lie…

But, then, I need to remember that it can work the other way, too.  Can’t use that top video for my self-esteem talk without taking into account this one, as well:

No, I’m no model (never have been), nor is my goal “beauty:” I always say I aspire only to “socially-acceptable.”   I’ll leave plastic surgery for a while, but I got the message of that last video, too—I’m off to exercise!

C.

Comments

A bird in the hand said…
Here's what I say on the subject of a husband leaving his wife for a woman 30 years younger: It rests solely on his shoulders; something in him is insufficient so he looks for it outside of himself (always a mistake).

However, I do recognize that we immediately think it's "us" (I've been there, done that). A hard, hard lesson.
February 13, 2011 at 11:53 AM
Karen thisoldhouse2.com said…
wow, these videos are a great message! -

My guess is, that MR. left-you-for-Miss-30-years-younger is going to start feeling awfully self conscious about HIS age pretty soon.
February 13, 2011 at 1:21 PM
Linda Lou Rogers Averitt said…
I think the most important thing is to feel good about your self, if you are having surgery to look better then so be it, but if you do not feel good about you, it will not matter:) My next saying, is if your gonna snag a man , might as well snag him just like you are,if you feel good about who you are then you can snag any man you want because they will be in it for the real you:) Do not misunderstand, I am all for surgery if it is the right reasons, but I have seen too many look like the next top model and be miserable inside, because they do not like them self, no matter how good you look if you do not like your self neither will any man, once he gets over your looks:0
I do enjoy dressing up and looking the best I can, I feel better about me, so I say use what you got and look your best in what ever you are doing, which by the way C you do that!! You are beautiful inside and out. I realize your not loking for a man, BUT if you were you would be the prize for him! Not sure what happened to C but he is the loser in this deal.
February 13, 2011 at 2:46 PM
My Farmhouse Kitchen said…
...if your daughter-in-law loves to bake...this is The Book for her..love the Sarabeth Bakery

happy valentines day, my friend

kary and teddy
xxx
February 13, 2011 at 5:47 PM
Zuzana said…
This was a fantastic post.;) I really enjoyed the clips!
As a very esthetically inclined person, I relish in physical beauty. Not just physical beauty in humans, but also natural beauty found in my surroundings. I have been told I have a keen eye and can spot great objects to capture, not just with my camera but also with colour and brushes.
I adore beauty in every shape and size. I pay great attention to my appearance and always will - but I will NEVER ever have any plastic surgery, nothing at all, no botox or anything that is even considered norm. I believe firmly that the beauty on the outside comes from the inside - however cliche this might sound. And I know that a good man will love that kind of beauty and will prefer it always over any kind of lovely but empty shell.
To age with grace and to age naturally is a wonderful thing which I am looking forward to.
And I know all about the fashion magazines and the way they trick us with their photography, which is almost at all times very far removed from reality.;)
Have a lovely Valentines Day.;))
xoxo
February 14, 2011 at 3:43 AM
Tracy said…
Hey there :)

Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog about the brown rice.

I believe the reason for rinsing is to be rid of harmful enzymes. Because the husk is still on the rice, I would expect all the important nutrition to remain. Soaking with the acid makes the nutrition more available to the body and easier to digest. Hope that makes sense.
February 14, 2011 at 4:23 AM
Vickie said…
I second what Zuzana said. God made us perfect the way we are. We can improve our looks and health by eating right and exercising, but other than that, no surgical knife will touch this face or body that is strictly desired to enhance my looks. Especially not to snag a man.
February 14, 2011 at 1:02 PM
HappyK said…
Great videos.
We have to feel good with who we are, take care of ourselves, and be kind to others. I think then our beauty comes out.
February 14, 2011 at 2:06 PM
Jayne said…
Really well done videos. In the first video, I like the "before" look of the model much better than the end product. Amazing how she is no longer herself. Who needs models when we have computers?
Of course, in the second video, I also like the "before" look. ;)
March 1, 2011 at 3:07 PM
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