"Perfect" Isn't Really So Perfect
by Jenna Hanington
Healthy = Skinny
Right?
Wrong. Unfortunately, this black and white view of weight is really common. As we grow up, we’re constantly exposed to images of “perfect bodies”—whether it’s the models in magazines, actors on television or professional athletes competing at the highest levels. How can we live up to those kinds of standards?
Here’s the honest answer: we don’t have to live up to those standards. No one does. The pressure to be really skinny or really in shape may sometimes be overwhelming, but the real goal should be to stay healthy.
Being healthy doesn’t mean being skinny. There’s more to it than that. It’s a mixture of exercise and eating well—but also confidence and happiness. To help with the second two parts, here’s something fun that really helped my friend and I back in high school. Next time you’re looking at a magazine and you see all the “perfect-looking” people on every page, try pointing out all of their flaws. You’d be surprised.
Jenna Hanington is a student at Georgia Tech studying Communications and Literature. She loves being physically active and spending time outdoors.