Trival Trivialities

The other day I couldn’t help but eavesdrop in on the conversation the two women sitting next to me on the train were having. Instead of a nice, peaceful train trip, I was subjected to listening to these women bitch and moan about the pains they went through to make themselves look good. I’m all for feeling comfortable and happy about yourself when you go out, but why go to such great lengths to improve your appearance when you’re viewing your life in terms of what other people think of you?

I spend as much time obsessing over my various bumps and bulges as the next chick, but most of the time I can live with them. I’ve come to terms with the fact that those Tim Tams I gorged on ate today will eventually settle on my thighs, and that my hair knows in advance when I won’t see anyone all day, and will choose that day to make me look like a poster girl for a Sunsilk ad.

Sure beauty has the power to excite the opposite sex, but so does a football game (GO THE BLUES!! 25-12!! Woohoo!!). Some days you’ll look fantabulous, other days you’ll look less fantabulous. Accept that, because when you think about it, no one really cares. Most people won’t notice that you have gigantic pimple, because they have better things to worry about - namely, themselves. People have their own problems. Some people have bigger problems, like stress at work or family issues; other people have littler problems, like their own tight pants and bad hair days. So pardon me if I do not whip out the violin and play a rendition of Cry Me a River when you tell me you’ve gained a couple of kilo’s.

The next time you feel down on yourself or you find out you’ve walked around with the tag hanging out of your shirt, just remind yourself that nobody cares and go eat a chocolate donut. Why not leave the crumbs and icing around your mouth too? Mmm. Yeah, a couple of people might smirk or laugh, but those people will forget all about you in five minutes, as they probably start thinking they have love handles themselves, and since you still have your friends, are gaining a higher education or working a fab job, why not? Nobody is really paying that much attention.

Didn’t get enough sleep and have bags under your eyes? Care factor = Zero. Got hat hair? Build a bridge and walk over it. Forgot to shave your legs? Wear pants, because unless you rub your legs on other people for a living, people will never know.

I guess people will never stop complaining about their physical imperfections, especially in a world where appearance is perceived as a form of social currency. But I reckon it should be kept in perspective. If you ask yourself whether or not your being able to fit into those size 8 jeans or having tight abs or not has affected the quality of your life, I’m fairly certain you’ll answer with a no. And in the grand scheme of things, these trivial flaws don’t matter enough to anyone else, so why should it to reduce you to a mentality of self-criticism?

Ear Candy: 'This Love' -- Maroon 5
(Maroon 5 = Riss' band of the moment. These guys rock to the nth degree.)