Anorexia Nervosa by Nancie Brosseau is a compelling short story about a young gymnast and dancer who strives to be thinner. She believes if she is just a little smaller she will be perfect. Unfortunately she can never reach the perfect point and continues to lose weight by starving herself. At first her parents and doctors believe it is just a temporary stage in her life. As she continues to wither into practically nothing, those around her realize she has a problem. Namcie is diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
Along with the physically suffering, she suffers emotionally. She gets to the point where she can not help herself. She eats nothing but excises excessively. She gets to the point where she licked a stamp that had 1/4 of a calorie in it and did an extra 100 sit ups a night to punish herself. She became very unhappy. She was eventually diagnosed with depression. Her condition led her to act less like herself and lie more frequently. He parents would try to force her to eat and she would throw it up. She would sell her lunch at school to buy diet pills. She became so obsessed with losing weight that she began to lose the things she really loved; dance and gymnastics.
Her body becomes so frail that she could not continue doing her activities. She had damaged her body so much her body was eating away at herself. She would break bones off a simple tumble pass. Her hair would fall out from all the deficiencies she was suffering. Her body became very sickly looking. Her teeth's enamel ate away because of the acid in her regurgitation. Her hips were rubbed raw from having to wear her belt so tight just to keep her pants fitting right. Nancie became really sick and eventually had to stop. After many sessions with a psychologist, she understood why she was so emotionally distraut and eventually conquered her anorexia. Though she still struggled with her almost life long problem, she finally was relieved from her disease.
People may look at her and wnder how this kind of thing happens. However, today's media pushes everyone to look, act, and be a certain way. Teenage girls are pressured into being the ideal tall, skinny model like girls. There are many forms of media that talk about weigthloss. Often times anorexic celebraties are romanticized by the media. People develop into wanting to be the skinny, attractive girl that catches everyones attention. There are many shows that talk about different medical procedures that can be taken to alter how one looks. Many teenage girlsget the impression that they must have a certain length of hair, shade of skin, or facial features to make them pretty.
If the public didn't stress the idea of outrageous body types there would be less cases of child anorexia or obesity. Many times adolescents often harm themselves trying to fit into the media's ideal picture of perfection. It is impossible to fit into everyones idea of perfect for the simple fact that no one has the exact definition of perfect or beauty. How do you think the world would be if no one was pressured into being anything but who they are?
I believe if everyone embraced their flaws the world would be a much more beautiful place. I think diversity is a very enriching thing to have in someones life. We, as people can not expect to grow as a group, city, state, region, nation, or world if we start to reject those who do not fit into our "ideal look". Expecting everyone to conform to one idea is not only imposible but immoral. Why try to change the natural beauty of the strange when in fact we are all a little different?
Friday, February 5, 2010
Beauty:When the Other Dancer is the Self
The short story, Beauty:When the Other Dancer is the Self, is a story about a woman who reflects on her beauty in her childhood. She begins the story by telling about a day where she was chosen to go to the county fair, which was a great honor, by her father for looking so nice. She even insists "'I'm the prettiest""(p. 118). The young girl has a very confident demeanor about herself. She was described as very outspoken, proud, and head held high. She did very well at school due to the fact she was very sure of herself.
The author, Alice Walker, then explains she was shot in the eye with a BB gun pellet. The shot was a complete accident by one of her older brothers when she was young. This, however, changed the way she thought of herself. She even believes her dad loves her less because of her damaged eye. The eye was covered in a caterack that was later operated on but still left an unnoticiable mark. The then on she kept her head down and stayed pretty reserved. For the first time in her life she was teased by other students, people looked at her differently, and she felt all around ugly. In a sense, the author loses most of the aspects that made her so attractive. She started to lose her voice.
Later on in the story, the author talks about her growing into an adult. She even discusses have a conversation with her family about if after the accident she was "changed". They tell her no she didn't changed but deep down she knows she has. At the conclusion of the story, Alice talks about being a mother. She invites readers into a day when she finally looks up again only to meet the eyes of her daughter. Her daughter notices the spot in her eye and tells her ""Mommy, there's a world in your eye""(p.124). For the first time after the accident, the narrator feels beautiful again. She looks in the mirror and sees her "world". She feels satisified and dreams beautifully that night. She dreams of her as an ugly awkward dancer who is met on the floor by another dancer a beautiful and graceful dance who is also her. They meet and have a gorgeous duo together. She realizes her beauty was not all physical and she has a unique quality that allows her beauty to shine through even more.
This story mad me think about the aspects of beauty. What makes a person beautiful? Is it what you do, how you dress, where you live, the extent of your wealth? People often have beautiful exteriors but act so ugly they, themselves, take on the title of being ugly. I believe the determination of who is pretty or beautiful is based on how you act. The characteristics you exhibit makes you attractive, not physically hoow you look. This story supports the statement "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
The author, Alice Walker, then explains she was shot in the eye with a BB gun pellet. The shot was a complete accident by one of her older brothers when she was young. This, however, changed the way she thought of herself. She even believes her dad loves her less because of her damaged eye. The eye was covered in a caterack that was later operated on but still left an unnoticiable mark. The then on she kept her head down and stayed pretty reserved. For the first time in her life she was teased by other students, people looked at her differently, and she felt all around ugly. In a sense, the author loses most of the aspects that made her so attractive. She started to lose her voice.
Later on in the story, the author talks about her growing into an adult. She even discusses have a conversation with her family about if after the accident she was "changed". They tell her no she didn't changed but deep down she knows she has. At the conclusion of the story, Alice talks about being a mother. She invites readers into a day when she finally looks up again only to meet the eyes of her daughter. Her daughter notices the spot in her eye and tells her ""Mommy, there's a world in your eye""(p.124). For the first time after the accident, the narrator feels beautiful again. She looks in the mirror and sees her "world". She feels satisified and dreams beautifully that night. She dreams of her as an ugly awkward dancer who is met on the floor by another dancer a beautiful and graceful dance who is also her. They meet and have a gorgeous duo together. She realizes her beauty was not all physical and she has a unique quality that allows her beauty to shine through even more.
This story mad me think about the aspects of beauty. What makes a person beautiful? Is it what you do, how you dress, where you live, the extent of your wealth? People often have beautiful exteriors but act so ugly they, themselves, take on the title of being ugly. I believe the determination of who is pretty or beautiful is based on how you act. The characteristics you exhibit makes you attractive, not physically hoow you look. This story supports the statement "beauty is in the eye of the beholder".
Sunday, January 31, 2010
My Friend Michelle, an Alcoholic
This short story explores college's students experience with a friend with an alcohol problem. The author, Bidgid Stone, goes through different statistics while telling the story of her friend Michelle. This story identifies that drinking is a problem for students.
Michelle is party animal. She misses some of her classes because she continues to party all night and become drunk throughout the parties. She, like many college students, suffers acedemically due to her compulsive drinking. Bridgid often confronts Michelle about her drinking, but with little success. Eventually Bridgid and Michelle fall apart because of the alcoholism.
This story identifes a very large and common problem throughout this nation. Youth today are exposed to many different types of addictions everyday. They must fight to keep from falling into the addictions themselves. Teens are pushed to do drugs and drink in order to fit into a more "popular" standing. Unfortunately many teens fail to keep themselves from becoming addicted to the items.
I believe this story highlights the hardships of being a teenager transitioning into an adult. Often we, as people, try as hard as we can to fit in that we forget the very values we believed in as children. We were taught that smoking was bad and no one wanted to do that; drinking was not an option at a young age, it was not even a remote option. As we age, we are exposed to the cruelties of life. We lose our innocent quality and become more of a product of the "real world". We see as time progresses a childhood is shorter than the previous generation. We watch as children strain to becom adults and sadly fall onto a winding and dangerous trail.
Alcoholism
Dark forces have created a disease
That blocks even an angel's heart from reason.
Unnoticed flying freely through the the breeze
We're innocent participant's of treason.
There are some heroes fighting what is done
As this disease keeps spreading more and more
With government enforcing how it's run
A plague is spread about from shore to shore.
Can we allow without the slightest pause
The good of man to be so contradicted?
Can we believe it justified because
There are some folks who will not be afflicted?
Can it be worth the horrors and the fears?
The draining sore of human lives laid waste?
Can it be worth one battered daugther's tears?
To keep a germ because you like its taste?
We really know down deep inside what's right.
True angels know when blood is on our hands.
So thanks, but I'll just have a diet Sprite
And hope the one who joins me understands.
John H. Bidwell
Michelle is party animal. She misses some of her classes because she continues to party all night and become drunk throughout the parties. She, like many college students, suffers acedemically due to her compulsive drinking. Bridgid often confronts Michelle about her drinking, but with little success. Eventually Bridgid and Michelle fall apart because of the alcoholism.
This story identifes a very large and common problem throughout this nation. Youth today are exposed to many different types of addictions everyday. They must fight to keep from falling into the addictions themselves. Teens are pushed to do drugs and drink in order to fit into a more "popular" standing. Unfortunately many teens fail to keep themselves from becoming addicted to the items.
I believe this story highlights the hardships of being a teenager transitioning into an adult. Often we, as people, try as hard as we can to fit in that we forget the very values we believed in as children. We were taught that smoking was bad and no one wanted to do that; drinking was not an option at a young age, it was not even a remote option. As we age, we are exposed to the cruelties of life. We lose our innocent quality and become more of a product of the "real world". We see as time progresses a childhood is shorter than the previous generation. We watch as children strain to becom adults and sadly fall onto a winding and dangerous trail.
Alcoholism
Dark forces have created a disease
That blocks even an angel's heart from reason.
Unnoticed flying freely through the the breeze
We're innocent participant's of treason.
There are some heroes fighting what is done
As this disease keeps spreading more and more
With government enforcing how it's run
A plague is spread about from shore to shore.
Can we allow without the slightest pause
The good of man to be so contradicted?
Can we believe it justified because
There are some folks who will not be afflicted?
Can it be worth the horrors and the fears?
The draining sore of human lives laid waste?
Can it be worth one battered daugther's tears?
To keep a germ because you like its taste?
We really know down deep inside what's right.
True angels know when blood is on our hands.
So thanks, but I'll just have a diet Sprite
And hope the one who joins me understands.
John H. Bidwell
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I'm O.K., but You're Not
"I'm O.K., but You're Not" by Robert Zoellner is a story that shows people are quick to point out things they disapprove of. He explains how people only see wrong in the actions of others, not themselves throughout this short story. He uses an example from his daily life about a disapproval for smoking along with the disapproval for animal excrement.
The author tells his readers about a day when he went to a restaurant and deliberately annoyed an older couple by repeatedly smoking after being asked to quit. He explained that under normal circumstances he would put out his cigarette but this time it was different. He believed the couple, especially the gentleman, look particularly uppity. It almost annoyed him by just looking at the couple.
Disgusted by the smoking, the couple leaves in a hurry. As they rush out to their car, the author notices two poodles in the back seat pacing back and forth. The older couple opens their doors and the dogs rush to the restaurant's lawn to do their business. The author watches the animals continue to pollute the grass in complete distaste. He demonstrates how people find somethings absolutely repulsive,such as smoking, but will allow something revolting to happen, such as allowing animal excrement to cover the yard of a public area.
The author amazed me at how the mere sight of the older couple made him want to intentionally smoke. It seemed that he based a strong action off a simple observation. It was as if because he did not like how the couple looked, he chose to continue an action they did not like.
The story identified the actions taken by people are often disapproved by others. The blatantly obvious truth is no one will agree with actions taken by others 100 percent of the time. Another truth is everyone has a different perception of what is acceptable and what is not. When people are courteous to each other's perceptions, we lose the "I'm O.K., but You're Not" mind set.
The author tells his readers about a day when he went to a restaurant and deliberately annoyed an older couple by repeatedly smoking after being asked to quit. He explained that under normal circumstances he would put out his cigarette but this time it was different. He believed the couple, especially the gentleman, look particularly uppity. It almost annoyed him by just looking at the couple.
Disgusted by the smoking, the couple leaves in a hurry. As they rush out to their car, the author notices two poodles in the back seat pacing back and forth. The older couple opens their doors and the dogs rush to the restaurant's lawn to do their business. The author watches the animals continue to pollute the grass in complete distaste. He demonstrates how people find somethings absolutely repulsive,such as smoking, but will allow something revolting to happen, such as allowing animal excrement to cover the yard of a public area.
The author amazed me at how the mere sight of the older couple made him want to intentionally smoke. It seemed that he based a strong action off a simple observation. It was as if because he did not like how the couple looked, he chose to continue an action they did not like.
The story identified the actions taken by people are often disapproved by others. The blatantly obvious truth is no one will agree with actions taken by others 100 percent of the time. Another truth is everyone has a different perception of what is acceptable and what is not. When people are courteous to each other's perceptions, we lose the "I'm O.K., but You're Not" mind set.
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