Is there a 12 step program for being vain? 4 years ago when my optometrist asked me why I wanted contacts at my age I told him it was because I was vain. He laughed, thinking I was joking, but I was half serious. After over 17 years of not really caring much about being fashionable or looking young, I now find myself much more aware of how I present myself than in my younger years. I don’t think that’s normal. I think I’ve become vain. In some ways I suppose it’s not really a bad thing, in the aspect that it shows that I care about myself, my health and the way I present myself to the world.
But there are times, like this morning, when I catch my vanity being downright catty. Someone found me on Facebook who obviously hadn’t seen me in a long, long time. They actually sent a message asking if the photo I had posted on my profile was me, stating that I looked ‘so different’. Now I am very aware of the propensity to gossip this particular someone has, and how much they relish telling others how ‘old’ or ‘fat’ someone has gotten. So my first thought upon reading that message? “Mmmhmm, a little shocked that I look much younger than I am? That my daughter and I are mistaken for sister most of the time? Disappointed that I don’t look like a frump?” I actually had to rewrite my return message three times to keep the “take that” feeling out of my words. I ended up politely stating that yes, the picture was me and was taken very recently.
After I sent it, I was a little ashamed of myself for the smug feeling I had just knowing this person was going to hate that answer. And then I wondered what kind of a person that made me? Have I become one of ‘those’ girls? The girls who in high school obviously enjoyed the way they looked. And as much as I hated that in high school, was it really wrong for those girls to like themselves. Was the reason many of us felt that way about them because we weren’t happy with ourselves? And this ‘someone’ who asked about my profile picture, what was their motive? Who did they think I had a picture of on my profile?
It’s funny. I’ve been thinking for a while now that the next big lump of money I get, I want to ……
(a) go to Vegas
(b) go to Mexico
(c) get laser eye surgery
Yup, the correct answer is (c). I hate wearing my glasses. They don’t look bad, they are a little outdated, but I really hate the current trend of the big bulky frames. Mine are smaller, wire ones. But I just hate them. I wear contacts all the time. But lately they have been bugging my eyes quite a bit. Argh… Anyways, for $1000 to $1,500 I think it’s worth it for the surgery. Just not this year yet. Have to finish the daughter’s orthodontics off.
It’s a good thing ot take pride in our looks. I think so. I’ve started working out again. I like how the t-shirts look on me. I like how people (women) take a second look. But I am not looking for anyone else. I like how Shannon doesn’t say anything, but let’s me know she likes the arms too. So, yes, I’m vain too then. Not a bad thing at all as far as I’m concerned.
Hugs.
I don’t think that is as much vanity as it is becoming more self-aware. It’s a very similar position that I had when I was young but know that I’m older, I want to look my best when possible. Promoting a positive self-image increases your confindence and can only be an assest personally and professional. Embrassing your inner Adonis (Or Aphrodite) isn’t such a terrible thing. Unless you take it to a place that is extreme or hurtful to others.
There is always someone looking to tear someone else down. I feel sorry for these people because they obvious aren’t comfortable with themselves. For example pretty much everyone on VH1′s Rock Of Love Bus with Brett Micheals, Now those are some catty b&%#^es