I was very lucky to have the opportunity to spend some time outside enjoying the beautiful weather this weekend.
On Saturday I headed down to Market Square and then South Beach (or City Beach as it’s now named) and I was able to sit and watch the people also enjoying the sun and really experience Wollongong at its best. And then on Sunday I headed up to Sydney with my family to see the end of the Sculpture by the Sea exhibit.
Other than it being extremely hot in the middle of the day when we should have been inside, it dawned on me that this would be the prefect place to bring someone with self-esteem or body image issues.
At the beach people are quite comfortable walking around in public with – in a lot of cases – swim wear which is smaller than their underwear. There are people of all ages, shapes and sizes. I think it’s wonderful!
What a great way to show someone that they shouldn’t compare themselves to super models and celebrities in magazines and on TV; that most people don’t fit one mould, and actually celebrate the fact that we are different, and can be confident with these differences.
It always upsets me when I see, or hear about, someone with an eating disorder. It makes me wonder what has driven them to take such drastic action. And whilst I realise that it is a mixture of reasons ranging from friends, peers, the media, what we see around us and what we aspire to; at the root of it all is a lack of self-confidence.
Whilst I agree that we should all aim to have a healthy diet and lifestyle I think that it can become an unhealthy obsession in some cases. Let’s aim for balance.
I urge you all to head down to the beach some time soon and just people watch for a while. Don’t compare yourself to the people there, don’t judge them for how they look or are dressed; just embrace the fact that they are comfortable in their own skin, and be inspired to do the same.
Following on from my article ‘How soon is too soon?’ a reader sent me this link to an article that was published this week: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad-application/glenn-mcgraths-new-life-quizzed/story-fn6bfkm6-1225949683236. “The McGrath Foundation has polled 1200 people, asking… whether the relationship had made them change their opinion of the foundation.”
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