Beauty Through My Eyes (For All You Women)

This video stirred something within me that I didn't realize I've been feeling for some time.

What I read on your blogs and conversations I have with you guys often drives what I choose to write about. It's the raw honesty of revealing your deepest insecurities that stays with me the longest after I've left your pages. Because of what I've been reading lately I want to talk about self-image, specifically body image.

Some of you whom I read regularly have been fighting weight issues. I've seen the effects it can have, as my wife Sandy has faced this for years (she's okay with me mentioning this). The cycle is usually inversely proportionate; as weight increases self-confidence decreases. The media doesn't help either. By continually bombarding society with images of the 'ideal' body type, advertisers would have us believe a woman is somehow less feminine, less attractive and therefore less desirable in the eyes of others if she's overweight. Yes some men do feel this way, but the media doesn't speak for all of us. Am I attracted to women with the typical 'supermodel' figure? Sure. But beauty goes far beyond that and it's not talked about nearly enough.

There's a fine line between actively trying to improve the appearance of your body vs. accepting how you look; I think the answer lies in wanting to make the change but still feeling good about yourself in the process. It starts with your mind and the way you see yourself; if you don't project your own beauty on the inside, you can't expect others to see it on the outside. A woman who believes in herself and shows that to others is undeniably fierce; there's nothing sexier than a woman who loves who she is, not narcissistically but confidently.

I appreciate that women want to look better and feel better about themselves but I'm sometimes disturbed by the lengths that some will go to just to achieve it. This is what the video sparked in me. It bothers me that eating disorders are common in our society, and becoming increasingly more prevalent amongst adolescent girls. I'm bothered by the number of women who feel the need to seek cosmetic surgery and Botox injections, and by the amount of surgeons who are willing to perform these procedures knowing damn well they're not necessary. I'm bothered by the number of 50+ women I've seen who I think are hella sexy and don't realize it.

I've read references about your weight from some of you in your posts.  It's a bit disheartening, because I think often you're not
hearing other viewpoints and therefore not getting the full picture. There are often times I want to reply with how I feel, but I'm not usually comfortable saying these things as they can be easily misconstrued. (It's very difficult for a man to honestly compliment a woman these days). But just because I don't say it doesn't mean I'm not thinking it.

Regardless of how old you are, what your background is, your height, weight or skin colour, you're beautiful.

Never forget that.