Over the years, I have noticed that is seems the world, especially this country, seem fixated on what is on the outside.
Apparently, I am not the only one who is noticing this because singer and songwriter Colbie Caillat felt it an important enough of an issue to write an entire song about it. In her song “Try” Caillat describes how women in particular do just about anything such as excessive exercising, spending and makeup use to make others accept them.
Not only is the wording strong, but the video for “Try” is also powerful. The video shows women with all of the makeup, fake lashes and wigs on and they are encouraged to take all of the stuff off and like themselves for who they are.
To me, Caillat did her job. She made me think about the issue; and she is right. We just get worse and worse.
When I was in high school, I do not seem to recall everyone dying their hair, getting their nails done, tanning all the time or getting numerous piercings and tattoos.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Some girls had their nails done or dyed their hair, but the rest of our class kind of made fun of them. I also understand the need for hair dying. I know there are some people who go gray haired early; and in high school. For those people I understand.
I guess I just do not know why parents are allowing their children to do all of these things. I recently heard a high school student say she didn’t even know what her natural hair color was anymore. That really struck me. It has almost gotten to the point where not having fake nails, fake eyelashes and dyed hair would make one stand out more.
I personally think that fake eyelashes should only be worn at Halloween unless there is some medical reason as to why a person doesn’t have eyelashes.
As for tattoos. I almost want to try and stop myself. I personally do not have any because I just do not know what I would pick that I would want to remain on my body for an entire lifetime.
When I was in high school, our athletes in football, basketball and baseball, to name a few, did not have tattoos. Now, I am surprised to see a lot of high school kids, and just those in sports, already have them and I can’t help but wonder why their parents let them do that.
I mean prior to being 18 you must have parental consent to obtain tattoos. Think about that. Now I know there are parents out there who know their kids will get a tat the minute they turn 18 and will do whatever they can to ensure the tattoo they pick out is acceptable. They even go with them to the tattoo place. To me, they are doing all they can.
When I speak against too many piercings people always say “Well piercings are easy to remove.” That is fine, but not if large gages are used in the ears. If they are used for a long period of time only surgery can get their ears back to a somewhat normal state.
I just hope that people would think about what they or their children are doing. What happened to us just putting our best self forward? I am not saying people shouldn’t wear makeup or dye their hair, but what I am saying is think about the message it is sending to the young and impressionable.
Do we really want them to think they need fake lashes, fake nails, dyed hair, multiple piercings, tattoos or gages to feel special? I think we should encourage our children to be natural as long as they can. Oh. And for the record. Yes. My ears are pierced. No. I do not dye my hair. Yes. I wear makeup.
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