Okay, i'll admit it. I've been really really slack with my blog (or Jeke) lately.
Actually, it surprises even me how long its been since my last update. I guess i have been a little busy, but thats not really much of an excuse.
Hmm...okay, so whats goin on i hear you ask?
Well, I've had a lot of school assignments n stuff lately, One that was particularly boring (Sose...*snoooooore!*), though some haven't been that bad.
My english assignment for one, has definately been a bit of an eye-opener for me. I had to write a feature article on anything focusing mainly around Kids & Bullying, or Kids Health (like childhood obesity n stuff like that).
I decided to do it on the fact that so many teens, mainly girls, have such a low opinion of themselves. Some of the stats i found were actually just plain scary.
1. In 2004, Bliss mag-azine surveyed 2000 teenage girls, with shocking results. 19% of those girls ques-tioned were overweight, yet 67% thought they needed to lose weight.
2. Two out of every three girls (from the same survey) under 13 said they had already been on a diet.
3. More than a quarter of 14 year olds (still same survey) said they had considered having plastic surgery or taking diet pills.
4. In a study that asked a group of men and women to judge whether girls in multiple photos were overweight, perfect, or underweight. The photo judged as ‘perfect’ by 80% of the women was judged as ‘underweight’ by 80% of men. The girl judged as ‘perfect’ by over 60% of men was judged as ‘overweight’ by 85% of women.
Our generation is fading away. Literally.
Fashion models in the 1950's were averaged as 8% skinnier than the average woman. Now, fashion models are 23% skinnier than that same average.
Thsi just makes me think of the song by Barlow Girl, "Mirror."
For those of you who don't know the song, some of the lyrics are;
"Mirror, mirror, on the wall, have i got it?
Cus mirror, you've always told me who i am.
And i'm finding its not easy to be perfect."
This pretty much sums up how so many thousands of teens are feeling about themselves, all over the world, right as i type this, and as you read it. Looking in the mirror is no longer satisfactory. Its a great big dissapointment and a cause for depression.
But, the song then goes on to say;
"So, sorry you won't define me
Sorry, you don't own me
Who are you to tell me
That I'm less than what I should be?
Who are you? Who are you?
I don't need to listen
To the list of things I should do
I won't try, No, no, no I won't try
Mirror I am seeing a new reflection
I'm looking into the eyes of He who made me
And to Him I have beauty beyond compare
I know He defines me"
This is where the Christian Point of view comes in. It no longer matters that we don't have as good a body as, say, Brittney Spears (the celebrity judged as having the best body by the majority of teenage girls). We were made to look how we look, for a reason. We are God's own personal handiwork, and, lemme tell ya, God doesn't make mistakes. Whether you are fat or skinny, tall or short, You were made perfect in God's eyes, and to him, we are all beautiful, despite our flaws. We are all individuals, and made to stay as such.
Be who you are, and say what you feel, cus those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.
-Angie