One of the “Getting To Know Your Body” lessons that stuck with me from elementary school is the one about self-esteem. The one where the teacher is all, “don’t be a bully” and “you’re worth it” and “when you point your finger at someone, you’re pointing 3 fingers back at yourself.” There’s also that one about “making fun of other people is really only trying to make yourself feel better.”
Well, yeah, duh. That’s why I watch “Cops” and “Rock of Love I,” “…II,” & “…Bus” and why I DON’T watch “The Biggest Loser.” I only watch shows that make me feel better about myself and not worse. It’s also why I love websites like “People of Walmart.”
I need the failures of others to make myself happy.
There. I said it.
Truthfully, it’s not the ONLY thing that brings me The Happy. I have Zoloft for what remains after I laugh at others behind their backs. And maybe a little from watching my girls grow. And maybe a little more from hearing, “I love you and you’re the greatest wife and I can’t live without you and I’ll never look at another woman again as long as you live and who farted?” from my husband. And maybe the remaining sliver of my self-worth is drawn from my inner being that sings to Bon Jovi songs with dreams of puppy dogs and daisies in my head. (I could totally be a Buddhist.)
Really, am I any different than 98% of the world? I think not. I just admit it.
I’ve read other blog posts written by the self-righteous who say, “I find my happy within myself” and “I don’t feel the need to compare myself to others to fulfill my self-worth” and “I feel the sunshine and the moonbeams on my skin, and I’m rejuvenated with all that is good and happy and holy. The End.”
Those people don’t really read my blog. Thank GOD.
So when I spot a GEM of a woman to which I can compare myself, I snap a picture.
This, my dear friends, makes me grateful I have a Mama who taught me right.
And, yes, I do feel good today, thankyouverymuch.
{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m pretty sure I had something witty to say until I saw that picture…then? everything just left my brain. I’m fekking speechless…
.-= Jen´s last blog ..If I thought I could get away with it… =-.
she kind of sucks all the cells out of your brain.
Um…at least she’s wearing a bra?
And any small amount of self-esteem I’ve managed to cobble together sure as HELL didn’t come from a damn moonbeam, I’ll tell you that much.
.-= Ginny´s last blog ..I’m Too Lazy to Buy Stamps =-.
for. sure.
Crikey! I’m glad you don’t subscribe to the perfection club … I’m certainly not a member! I grab self-esteem when and where I can …
And again – crikey!
.-= thesamesky´s last blog ..Protected: Empty Chair =-.
exactly. i take my self-esteem where i can get it.
Oh wow.
WOW.
There are NO words for that photo.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Weekly Winners: Touch of Fall Edition =-.
many words, yet, NO words.
My inner buddhist sings Bon Jovi, too!
.-= Mwa´s last blog ..Ten step plan update =-.
‘lay your hands on me’
awesome.
Yeah, well, those people who always have hapiiness from the inside probably have three or four other serious issues, like they drink too much or are maybe sleeping with someone else’s husband or compulsively exercise. I mean, I am all for finging happiness within yourself but really, there is nothing more satifying running into an ex-gf of your partner anad seeing that she has really let herself go, or watching someone fall down in front of you (although that is usually me; happy to help!) or whatever. I also think those self-righteous people about whom you speak are doing the very same thing-holding themselves up as the yardstick to measure everyone by, finding everyone else in the world just a little less than, which in turn makes them feel superior. We ARE all the same; some of us just don’t try to hide the ugly parts anymore.
.-= Kori´s last blog ..Honorary Member of the church of batshit crazy =-.
yup. not trying to hide the ugly parts. life isn’t all sunshine and roses as much as we’d wish it were.
HA HA!! You have to love living in the South!!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..New Moon Love! =-.
i don’t know any better.
I have just enough passion for the catty in me to say, “I wish I could mock the front too.”
Moonbeams, my ass. Happiness and self-acceptance are ephemeral at best, but its their fleetingness that makes when they come so sweet.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Is it just me? =-.
can i get that last line on a t-shirt?
I used to play the “who is fatter? me or her?” game quite a bit. Of course, right now that doesn’t work so much but I’m getting there.
God, I am awful.
.-= Hilly´s last blog ..Thoughts And Questions From The Deep End… =-.
dood. i do the ‘i’m SO not THAT fat game’ all the time. most of the time i win.
Was she at a NKOTB concert? Cause, yeah. She would fit right in.
And THAT is why I left the concert feeling like a rock star.
.-= Burgh Baby´s last blog ..She Did Apologize. Eventually. =-.
sluts still like them, eh?
Maybe she just wanted to get her back tan. LOL
.-= Diana, The Doggy Mommy´s last blog ..Lobster Rolls =-.
good thinking!
I’m embarrassed to admit this, but in a recent friend’s wedding I was pumped as hell that I wasn’t the fattest bridesmaid. Then I looked at the wedding pictures pictures and realized I was. But still, I was ridiculously happy when I thought I wasn’t, when I was comparing myself. I was, and am still, embarrassed that I even did, embarrassed that I work that way mentally, but sometimes I do.
.-= Amanda of Shamelessly Sassy´s last blog ..Tweets & Sickness =-.
oh mama, there are SO many times where i’ve thought i’ve looked good or at least decent and then when i see the pic, i wanna start starving myself.
LOL. That outfit would be SO much less trashy if she had a bikini top instead of a bra on. IMO.
i thought the SAME DAMN THING.
Gotta love Florida. Your not gonna see that year-round any other place.
.-= Tara R.´s last blog ..Best drama award goes to… =-.
love the Floridiots.
Come to Austin, TX home of the “Keep Austin Weird” theme… Then you would probably feel grateful that this one was at least wearing a bra. The bra burners are still in full riot gear, or lack there of, around here.
.-= Joy @ Mommysjoy´s last blog ..Wordless/ful Wednesday #21 =-.
Dang. Yeah, you stopped me in my tracks with that picture.
.-= Two Makes Four´s last blog ..Where Do I Find These People? =-.
glad i could help.
lol! Wow, I picked a good day to drop by your blog. That picture actually made me snort out loud. (Which I do often anyways)
I so play the “I’m am sooo not the fattest person in the room” game. Except of course, when I am.
Also, hi!
.-= Katie´s last blog ..I dream of… Kate Gosselin?? =-.
That Walmart website is my new best friend… so freaking funny! As are you… and you’re awesome – farts and moonbeams abound.
.-= grumblegirl´s last blog ..Reminiscing… =-.
What? What is that even?
And will you make me one?
.-= Miss Grace´s last blog ..Mira. =-.
Maybe it’s an apron….
.-= Miss Grace´s last blog ..Mira. =-.
And what is crazy is that you know she think she looks hot..
hahahahaha
.-= Kim´s last blog ..What the heck? – A little bit of this.. A little bit of that.. =-.
Happiness is having lots of people to make fun of. And a Rock of Love Bus marathon.
.-= jerseygirl89´s last blog ..So, What Do You Think? =-.
Okay, what IS that and wow that you caught that in public!
.-= Karen MEG´s last blog ..Friday Fragments – One week down =-.
I’m so tacky that I sort of like that look. Does that make you hate me? I hope not. Believe me, I wouldn’t actually wear it, but if I saw it in real life, I’d say to myself, “Man. She has balls.”
.-= Ms. Moon´s last blog ..Home Coming =-.
Sunshine and moonbeams.
Naughty.
.-= Betty-Lou Brandine´s last blog ..Half way home =-.
Ha! Three words: North Central Florida. Gainesville and the surrounding counties are ripe with this lovely type of person. It’s the reason my husband and I like to frequent county fairs. We call it “looking for wildlife”.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Perspective =-.
{ 1 trackback }