Beauty

Beauty

I heard on the radio and then also read an article this afternoon about Angelina Jolie. She over thelast 9 weeks has gone through treatment and had a double mastectomy. This is a massive decision and a massive life changing moment, obviously something she has discussed and thought about.

Now medically her odds of breast cancer have dropped from 87% down to 5%. If that was me, I’d have to say I’d really have to think about performing the mastectomy also. But I can say that, it hasn’t happened to me, I don’t know what it would be like to have a mastectomy, or breast cancer.  A few years ago I found a small lump in my breast and after seeing a doctor and having an ultrasound, it was found to me a small fat nodule. Nothing serious and it has stayed there. But for the period of time between having the scan and getting the results. Thousands of what if’s played in my mind.

Now this article about Anjelina Jolie got me thinking about beauty. For so many women beauty is in their looks, the size of their waist, the size of their breasts, how long their legs are, the number on the scale, for a lot of women (dare I say most) our appearance affects our self esteem, our self worth and how we believe others see us as people.

I am currently 8/11 weeks through a boot camp. Man its been tough, challenging but so rewarding. Why did I do it? Mostly because I wanted some “me” time, when I could solely focus on me and no one else (selfish? Probably but I’ve enjoyed it). But on the other hand I also did it because I believe I wanted to change my appearance, to be slimmer, fitter, healthier, skinnier legs, tone up my tuckshop lady arms. WHY? Because I believe, even if I try and tell myself that it doesn’t matter, I believe that how I look changes how I feel about me as a person.

So we change our bodies, we put on make up, we buy nice clothes. Who for? Ourselves, our girlfriends, our spouses, or society?

In this article today I read that Angelina Jolie also had reconstructive surgery and had breast implants. I imagine (not medically trained so don’t quote me) that reconstructive surgery is probably necessary or beneficial after a mastectomy. So I don’t think she did this out of vain or for her own beauty. But it did make me question…..was she only able to get the mastectomy and then the reconstructive surgery because she had the money. Could someone with limited funds also do this?

Anyway I guess my entire thoughts came down to this….. maybe we should stop trying to be “beautiful” for everyone else, maybe we should firstly love ourselves, respect ourselves, treat our own bodies well and care for them.