~ Fat and Happy ~

Our little town has a Facebook page, and it’s a fantastic way for people to take the pulse of our community. We find out who lost a dog, whose kid won a sports event, whose husband was seen dangerously speeding down the road…that kind of thing.

It’s also a venue for our local businesses to hock their wares.  Why, I’ve even been known to shamelessly post a Mamaboe article from time to time.

It’s no holds barred, evidently.

There have been numerous postings about signing up for fitness classes or weight-loss programs; which, in and of themselves would not be egregious. Even I work out at the local gym. But to my chubby mind it seems they’ve been rather aggressive about it lately.   They aren’t,  “Come lose weight if you feel like it!” kinds of messages.  They are more like, “Hey, you fat slob! I can’t believe you haven’t stuck to your New Year’s resolution!  Aren’t you ashamed of yourself!?!  How can you stand to look at yourself?!” kinds of messages.

At least, that is the way I read them, which, you have to admit, might be slightly different than the way normal-linear-thinking people might read ’em.

Now, hold up a second, while I drag my soapbox on over here…..

I wish there were posts that read, “Hey You!  You are BEAUTIFUL JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!”  or  “YOU! YES, YOU!  Go out and be your awesome and amazing individual self today!”

That would be so much more beneficial to a society whose teens and pre-teens are over-burdened with the daunting task of trying to keep up with an artificially thin, media-supported, rather impractical female form.    Wouldn’t it be better if someone soft and squishy like me were plastered on the cover of Vogue with the message, “I double-dog dare you to find a more loving or comfortable lap!”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the Aunt Bee’s of the world were lifted up for our teens to aspire to and emulate?  Wouldn’t the concept of nurturing and selflessness and love be a more positive influence than to focus on what we LOOK like, or how our clothes fit, or what our resting heart rate is??

I’d like to think so.

I have a go-to phrase …  it’s kind of corny… but I learned it from my dad.  Whenever anyone asks me “How are you, today?”  I always reply, “Fat and Happy!”

Because honestly, true happiness lies in accepting who you already are, not who you wish you were.

And it certainly can’t be found in someone else’s definition of who they say you should be.

How am I today?

Fat and Happy, Baby!  Fat and Happy!