Human beings are the most self-conscious creatures made by The Maker. That essentially is not wrong, but when one goes on to consider the extremities to which people go just to make themselves the ‘right’ person, it does get you to think on how far we are just pushing ourselves.
Take, for instance, the fuss we have on how we look. We never seem to derive any satisfaction on how “we have been fearfully and wonderfully made” as the Holy Book says. If we are not complaining about how fat we are, then we are raising alarm over how skinny we have become. If not that, then we all seem to have something to say about how rugged our skin tone has become as a result of the change in weather elements.
One is almost sure that if some had their own way, they would opt just to have one season a year, that is to have summer for the rest of their lives. No rain, no winter, so that they could strut their stuff for the entire world to see.
Maybe in another lifetime.
If there still is any doubting Thomases out there as to how self-conscious we are, then look no further than these things: diets, gyms, eating programmes, body piercings and tattoos as well as why we use beauty treatments and use herbal medicines.
The beauty industry is a multi-billion dollar business thanks to the likes of Laurel, Yardley and Revlon.
As expected, some would explain these shenanigans as necessary for maintaining one’s health, but one wonders why there are increased cases of anorexia, stress and high blood pressure in this age than at any other time. All these things are nothing but an extension of the human self-consciousness and an attempt to be the perfect shape, face, and skin tone. If you were to ask me, I think that life would be pretty daft for all of us to just be the same.
Probably the weighty question deserves more attention than any other area in the 21st century. It is absolutely ‘amazing’ how fashionable in today’s modern world it has become to be a pint-sized woman. Every woman aspires to be either a Heidi Klum or Naomi Campbell, a mere straw-figure walking on the streets.
Whatever happened to the voluptuous figure that personifies the African woman? Someone, please, bring back big!
The big hips that characterise the elegant sway of the African woman are medically beneficial as researchers have proven and these come in handy during the labour process. No wonder why African women are able to bear the stress of labour more than their Caucasian counterparts.
Another bone of contention is when it comes to the ornaments that we put on. The rise of hip hop and rock music in this age has not helped much in teaching young people how to look elegant with jewellery. A look at chain-clad singers such as 50 Cent and The Game, who wear these to epitomise their ‘success’, leaves you agape. Why wear an assortment of chains on your neck that leaves you looking like an overdressed figurine? If this is how self-conscious we have become as humanity in our bid to show off and impress our peers then much sooner than later our situation will become an anathema.
Michelle Obama, the First Lady of the United States of America, can only be described as phenomenal. She has humanised the American presidency, which was disliked by many people. However she has not only done that, but has been able to send women all over the world into a sort of fashion frenzy as the woman has become the gold standard for looking dashing.
Quizzed by Time Magazine on what she attributes to her self-consciousness and her sense of style, Mrs Obama responded by stating that she owed it to her brothers and father who constantly told her she was beautiful and affirmed her.
Probably herein lies our answer as self-conscious beings, that is learning to accept ourselves just as we are, for in most instances all else we do to be beautiful does not compare with the true beauty that lies within.
