Might just be getting wiser along with the older part

[sarahmichigan]

I'm finding I'm less inclined to try to disabuse people of [what I see as] their deluded beliefs. A lot of it has to do with size acceptance and body image stuff, but this is also true in other areas. For one, I almost never get a good reaction, even if I try to be diplomatic, and it's just not worth it to try most of the time. Either people will figure these things out themselves in the long run, or maybe they'll prove me wrong on some point. It's been known to happen.

I do worry that some people WON'T ever learn these things for themselves, and they'll be like my mother who is 70 and still thinks she's too fat and eats "too much." Christ woman! You have one of the best diets in terms of fruits and veggies and fiber and you're a cancer survivor, and you've lived into your 70s, and you're still worried about the size of your ass?

But, you know, it's not my job to change everyone's mind and make sure they're thinking the "right" way on these topics. I can't even convince myself on some points some days. I've been rather annoyed that I've been exercising my butt off and eating fresh fruit and veggies and I've GAINED weight. I obviously haven't gotten to the point of seeing body weight as value-neutral data yet, even though it's an ideal and something I urge on other people when I discuss body positivity.

So, anyway. I need to mind my own business and take care of my own issues first, I do think...

Comments

[rain-herself.livejournal.com]

I think learning not to try too hard to fix other people's viewpoints is a good thing. I certainly am not even close to doing so, it's so hard to keep my mouth shut sometimes when I feel like if I could just make them *understand* X or Y, they'd be so much happier. But we never listen to other people. I think I'll be a lot happier myself when I can get over the urge to disabuse. :)

[zoe-1418.livejournal.com]

Kudos to you! And thanks for posting about this with such courage and humility. I don't think many people can do that.

[effy.livejournal.com]

It's a tricky balance. I think you're doing your part simply by getting information out there, that most people normally wouldn't ever encounter.