Do what makes you happy!

Chapter 40 - Exacting Beauty: Exploring Women’s body Projects and Problem in the 21^st Century, by Carl Rice

– What do you think a fat-friendly and girl-friendly physical education curriculum would look like? What about a physical education program that affirmed the capacities of kids with difference bodies, including those with physical differences or disabilities? If you had the task of designing a feminist health promotion campaign, what messages would you want to convey in order to promote girls’ and young women’s health?  ( Rice, Pg. 399)

"Beauty ads now encouraged women's investment  in appearance in the name if their emotional well-being and psychological health." (Rice, pg. 394)  The idea that if you achieve physical beauty you will be physically healthy and feel great creates unrealistic expectations. So if you are not 'pretty like the girls in the magazine' you cannot feel great. So I am a cute, chubby redhead which is not the archetype ever to be featured in magazines, so then I will never be happy? Some people choose unhealthy ways to achieve the look found in many modern magazines. An eating disorder can give you that sought after thigh gap, however is emotionally exhausting state which is unhealthy in many ways. 

The text discusses physical health in The Weight Project on page 396 referencing a program started by Prime Minister P. Trudeau in the 1970 called ParticipACTION which aimed to Canadians to be more active and promote good health. The message was that thinness was associated with good health and fatness with poor health. The idea that caught on was that fatness and fitness could not go together. Girls naturally carry a bit more fat then men through sex linked characteristics. Some people have thin body types and are not as active or healthy as others with larger body types who partake in fitness regularly. The text rightly reflects on how by trying to get Canadians to be more healthy the campaign actually caused a skewed perception of health and wellness.

Positive psychology explores the link between happiness and positive thoughts with our health, longevity, and wellbeing. This area of study is where my interest lies and I am hoping to bring it in to the realm of social work throughout my career. Using positive psychology as a spring board in building champagne to teach young persons about health and wellbeing I would take away appearance and perceiving with our eyes right out of the equation and I think there would be many benefits to this. "Do what makes you feel good!" This is the catch phrase for my program. It would emphasize discovering the capabilities of your body by moving in anyway which makes you feel happy. Stay in motion for as long as you feel good about it and see what makes you feel great.  

If we follow the visual standards set by the current fitness and beauty media people with different physical abilities are left out completely. If we instead focus on the movement and activities which make us feel good everyone is included because everyone is capable of this state. I do not look like a runner and I run like mad when I play soccer but I do not think I look like a runner so I have never tried jogging. I am worried that I will look dumb if I cannot run that long so I have never tried. So much potential is wasted worrying on how we look. Just get up and move in any way that drives you, makes you feel good and able. If you cannot do it in front of others, enjoy moving on your own. It does not matter when or where as long as you move and it feels good.

Every body is shaped different, has different ability, and is capable in different ways. The goal of good health is that your body functions in a way which is optimal for you and how good you feel. Yolanda, 23, was quoted on page 399 that she did not do well in fitness because she did not like to be tested in front of everyone. Some people enjoy sports competition and pursue that type of fitness, however this is not the only way to be active. Dance, hike, walk, spin in circles, play tag, or jog chatting with friends; jump up and down. Which one do you like to do? Just go do it. How long? Who cares! What do you look like is not important. Are their rules? There could be or not be. Depends what you are up to, just get up to something that makes you happy.

Girls are often put in situations where we are in competition with each other. This type of comparison is always a let down because we are each unique and will never be exactly like anyone else. The feel good moving approach is not only pro body, but also pro community and mental health. Since there is only emphasis on doing what feels good for your body you can do it with, or alongside someone and just enjoy being with someone. When we are feeling good participating with others it inspires the mind to try it again. Do you like to walk with small weights to work your arms? Well I also like walking with my dog. Both girls like to go for twenty minutes four times a week. Great, go together. When the only rule is feeling good there is not a set of expectations to hold ourselves or others to so it is hard to disqualify ourselves or others from participating.

Physical activity releases endorphins so if you get up and shake it to your favourite song, doing any moves you like, the feel good hormones will flow. Your mind will associate simply moving around in a way which makes your body feel good and your mind and body will be conditioned to keep it going. Each time we can notice more strength, or greater physical parameters we did not know we could accomplish before. Learning something new about ourselves, feeling good just moving, and learning other people enjoy moving too takes appearance, clothing style, and the need to compete out of the equation.

I think I am on to something here. Could be contagious!