Sunday, September 07, 2008

I subscribed to a place called MountainWings

Every day I receive an e-mail from them,
this was today's.

-------------------------------------------------
MountainWings A MountainWings Moment
#4254 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Trying to Keep It Pretty
========================

My grandmother once told me that it didn't matter to her what size I was, "just keep it pretty." Most of you know I have tried to "just keep it pretty." Unfortunately the more I aged,the more weight I gained, in spite of trying to watch what I ate and trying to stay active. Keeping it pretty wasn't enough to thrive in the world we live in.

One year ago today, I had gastric bypass surgery. My body has changed quite a bit, but I've got a lot of work ahead of me still. This journey has been both exciting and emotionally overwhelming. But... I've learned so much about myself, people(especially men) and relationships. It's really been amazing and disappointing. :o)

Each of us is impacted by body image, whether our own or someone we know. We place so much importance on what we see and what we find physically attractive.

Don't get me wrong, we should all take good care of our bodies but often we fail to consider the heart and spirit of the people who live inside bodies that are challenged by obesity, physical impairments or handicaps.

Most of the time perceptions are not the true reality. We make a LOT of assumptions about people based on how they look, and those who dare to get behind the shell of the physical still struggle with what is seen.

Today I ask each of you to take a second look at the obese lady in the grocery store, the man in the wheel chair or even a child who has a physical or mental disability.

Look into their eyes, speak or just smile - it means a lot.

~A MountainWings Original by Antoinette Jackson, Jacksonville, FL~
Thank you for inviting MountainWings in your mailbox. See you tomorrow

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think we can all learn from this post. It is a nice one to post.

The Mulligan Family said...

Wow! That was pretty powerful. Wonderful reminder. Thanks for sharing it.

Tom said...

Hi Patty
This is such a good post.... I know how much that smile or a small amount of time means to some... we have a young lad of 18 on our street and he likes nothing better than knocking on your door and asking how you are....some folks find this awkward as Jack as Downs Syndrome... I look forward to the knock and the chat... and it is such a small thing to do.... in all honesty I get as much pleasure from these visits as Jack dose....
All the best to you Patty
Tom

Wanda said...

Excellent post ~~


after Jill's car accident, and the after effects of that...13 skin grafts on her right leg and buttocks, a stiff and deformed leg. A wheel chair for months, and and now 20 years later a cane... but oh my goodness the compassion we learned as a family. And today Jill is a lovely woman of 37, with a limp and uses a cane, but one of the most generous and compassionate people I know. I've seen her do just that...stop and give a helping hand, or a smile to someone with a challenge.

This is something we can all learn from.

Thanks Patty.

Renie Burghardt said...

That is so true about assumptions, Patty. People see someone "different" and snicker and stare and are downright nasty. I always think how can anyone treat a human being like that? Thanks for posting this great lesson about how we should treat each other.

Good night, my friend.

Renie

Nancy said...

I can remember teaching my children to like all the kids in their classes at school, regardless of what kind of clothes they had on or if they were dirty or clean. Well, my son came home with head lice 3 times one year! But he was being nice and playing with the kids who weren't clean. The very next week at the carnival, this little boy he played with was there on Matinee Day and his head was shaved! But he had a friend all through school!

This would be a good story to read in the schools today, too! It's jsut not people who are overweight (who isn't these days!) but it's about less fortunate people and those with disabilities, too. Some people are snubs, and they will answer for it someday....

I need to subscribe to that site myself!

(((((( HUGS ))))))

Tomate Farcie said...

That's a great post, Mrs. Lincoln!