Looks
How each one of us looks, at least in Indian societies is a big factor of how we are perceived. Very rarely do we go beyond how a person looks and explore other aspects of a person.
I had a good life in those respects growing up because by conventional standards I was fair, had an average height, and was scrupulously thin, would I call myself healthy in that phase, No. Never was involved in anything active. Being tall, fair, thin — isn't that a great concoction to have? Rightly so I guess, never had taken these to the advantage and never had felt them to be important. But I realize from my contemporaries growing up that since they didn't fall into this template of being beautiful they were often ridiculed. The immense qualities that they all had were never complimented on and thus they always fostered a feeling of being underprivileged.
Now being in the fourth decade of life, some of those attributes have changed naturally. But still measured by the same template that was set in the teens, which means when you meet people the first comment that comes your way is about being fat and less fair. Gladly I haven't developed a hunch to get a comment on the height. Some of them even touch the conspicuous pouch to make you aware that you aren't perfect. As I know, I take my exercise very seriously and am consistent with it, and more importantly enjoy my meals and in-between snacks as well. Maybe if I am stringent on my diet I might make this pouch of mine nonconspicuous for others not to notice. Something in me is telling me not to do that for others, by compromising on the goodies which I enjoy. But be healthy nonetheless, which means in spirit as well, which is just fuelled by the pazhamporis, wadas, and chayas. As I embrace my evolving maturity, I’ve grown more resolute in recognizing the superficiality of all these beauty standards and being me more.
