Every week I spent time with a "little sister"... I was to be a role model, a friend, and a big sister.
As I got more into the "fitness industry", I started spending less time with her...
The reason why, is because of the guilt I felt.
I felt this guilt again this summer when I was the personal trainer for a soccer group of teen girls.
I didn't want them to know who I was, because I didn't want them to view me as a role model
What message am I portraying to these young developing girls who are trying to discover themselves?
The girls that want to be loved and appreciated?
...
That in order to be loved and appreciated... You must be "pretty" or "sexy"??
This is what I thought when I was younger... And where did it get me?
I base by self worth and value by the way I look, and the way men gave their attention to me... Not by how intelligent, kind, and caring I am.
And now I struggle with self-esteem... And many other issues such as self worth, body image, relationships, objectification, etc.
If you look at my photos, they are basically pornographic pictures, disguised as "fitness and health" photos!!!!
Sadly, that is what the fitness industry has become now.
I am honestly afraid of the images and ideas of "being a girl", that we send out to the young women. Look at teen magazines now, clothing advertisements, barbies, bratz dolls, etc.
I am sorry for the messages that I have given men, women, girls, and boys through my pictures.
But hopefully, my experiences will also be a lesson to myself and others.
I need to tell the girls that what's important, is not how you look.
YOU are not your appearance. YOU are what is behind that- the way you treat yourself, the way you see yourself, and the way you treat others.
Discover yourself through your hobbies and interests, not through your appearance, through shopping, or by admiring celebrities.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with you, no matter what anyone tells you.
Take care of your mind and body, and be yourself.
I agree, but i also disagree. Yes it is highly important for self worth to be valued among other measures beyond appearence and not have appearance as a primary indicator. But to dismiss having attracttive appearemce as not being apart of the equation in life is unfair. All humans have certain preferances when it comes to their likes amd dislikes in a person and these do follow certain physical characteristics as well. Your level of intelligemce, values, amd ideologies can also be discriminated against and contribute towards problems in the future. There has to be a kind of balance between both concepts because they both have importance in one's life. How to achieve that healthy balance?....i am not sure. I don't have the answer, but leaming from one extreme to the next are both just as detrimental. You should embrace the phyisque and appearance you had and probably still do for the most part except for the extreme dieting amd very low bodyfat meeded for shoots. You worked hard for it, you set out a goal, had a desire amd will to accomplish it amd you did. Thay in itself displays strong mental fortitude and being in personal training you know that by all the clients you have to will through work outs. What i am saying is you are very attractive, embrace it, emjoy it, it doesn't mean you have to look down on others or dismiss your looks, they are a part of the whole package that makes you, me, anybody. It is a part of your personal self worth....far from all of your worth, but it is a contributing piece.
ReplyDeleteSorry about the errors, i am typing from a phone. I do emjoy your blog amd your fb posts when you do them. Reminds me of me when i am in moments if reflection.
Sending good vibes