The Luxury of Looking Good

Originally, I was going to just write about negative body issues period, but then something bigger and better arose in my mind. If one considers all the people concerned with how their bodies look in a tight shirt, a bikini, a strapless dress, low-rise pants, one must also note that a very good majority of these people also come from the great, rich, powerful countries of the world. That's not to say that those in more poverty stricken countries don't feel ashamed of their bodies too, but it's far less common. Considering this new revelation, I have decided that the need to look good is a luxury that the powerful partake in because we have nothing better to do.

Yes, you read that correctly. The very idea that I can stand up right now and go to the mirror and poke my stomach in disgust while mentally swearing off chocolate is evidence that I am not doing enough with my life. Do you really think that women in Africa, before spending all day walking miles to find clean water, have a critical analysis of their bodies and vow to walk an extra few miles to banish cellulite-ridden thighs? I don't think so. They're too busy worrying about whether their children will survive another day in the conditions they constantly have to endure. These women are in over their heads with things that us "privileged" folk take for granted every day.

So who do we think we are that we can spare the time to do this in our "civilized" cities? We're all in the same boat when it comes to global warming, natural disasters, and basic needs so why do we get to be so obsessed about our looks? The premise of cutting calories, tearing the size tags out of our clothes, and spending extra hours at the gym is a waste of our valuable time, energy, and mentality. We need to do bigger things with our lives than worry about the size of our bottoms and the number of wrinkles on our faces. We are worth more than that. The luxury of self doubt is a luxury that we can afford to give up.