Getting Comfortable
It's been over two year since I wrote about reliving your child and things I would have liked to have done if I did relive it. And there is no doubt that I had some overwhelmingly awkward childhood years. Proof is in the school pictures:
It's weird because my posture seemed to have declined in eighth and ninth grade. Then, it improved with time. Growing up, I was never confident with my appearance (especially being one of the cutest toddlers around). It's observable that my confidence grew with my age; just look at the smile! I'm proof that you can become photogenic. Actually, I may have faked it until it became reality... Or just maybe, I'm still faking it... (Maybe the fact I got rid of my bowl cut resolved everything)
It would be ideal that people are comfortable in their own skin and realize the benefits of being in good health. But with social media filled with people that work out for multiple hours a day and advertisements starred by digitally edited models, it's not so simple to be confident with your own body. There is so much social pressure to look a certain way and it's not even possible for everyone to achieve.
There are trade-offs to be made in life. If you want to look as muscular/tone as those you see on advertisements (including native advertisement on Instagram), you have to realize it'll take time and effort. If it motivates you to get more fit, that's awesome. For me, I recognize I don't want to spend hours at the gym nor do I care to be "jack" or "swole"; I like my body as is (e.g. semi-athletic built on sports). My priorities don't lead with the gym or watching what I eat (I like my greasy food too much for that).
Being comfortable with myself was something that was gained by experience and time. I was a small Asian kid that looked really awkward (and looked years younger than my peers) growing up; I knew this even though everyone would tell me that I was "cute" which in reality meant "you look really young and you're really small". We should instill a culture and environment where people can more easily feel comfortable and relaxed with themselves.