When I get on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest, I’ve started to recognize how popular superficiality has become. Women now inject chemicals into their body to have fuller lips, less wrinkles, whiter teeth and just an overall better appearance. Not only do many people go to extreme ends to meet a certain standard of how they believe they should appear to others, but they also try to conform to a certain way of acting that is not always kind, considerate and a way in which others are proud. There is absolutely nothing wrong with becoming the best version of yourself, even physically with alterations, but, to me, there is something extremely wrong with basing one’s self-worth upon superficialities that, in reality, doesn’t matter.
Recently, HGTV has launched the newly popular TV show, "Fixer Upper." The show features Chip and Joanna Gaines “fixing up” older homes in Waco, Texas all while showing the world their beautiful family and heart-warming love story. On this show, Joanna Gaines unashamedly wears her faith, passion and kindness like a sweet perfume that never weakens. She is completely, 100 percent herself and shows that in a classy, wholesome way.
When you flip through the TV today it’s hard to find a TV show with main characters or even characters such as Joanna. Many shows and movies are completely filled with greed, sex, drugs and false interpretations of how relationships with other individuals should occur. Some people depicted use some sort of a high to get through life problems. Others show other people they care by ignoring them or treating them poorly just for attention. Some make it seem normal and okay to be treated poorly. While others simply care about nobody but themselves. Now, to be fair, I watch shows and movies filled with this sort of thing all of the time, but I laugh in knowing that the kind of behavior betrayed by these people is unhealthy and not at all the kind of behavior I want to base my life on. And, sadly, I know millions of other viewers would disagree with me.
So, in this world where harmful and shallow behavior to ourselves and others is deemed as normal, have integrity and stick to your guns. Joanna Gaines does not back down. She is a Christian and stands firmly in her faith no matter what. She is not provocative as a way to draw in more viewers or help her pride or self-worth; she is simply classy, elegant and confident in her originality of who she really is. As easy as it is to follow the crowd and agree with some societal norms that are not only harmful to ourselves but harmful to others and our children/future children, Joanna Gains steps back from that lifestyle and lives just as simply as she would have if she were not a big star on a successful show as well as a successful business owner.
Ultimately, this life is yours. There is not a picture perfect person, but we can try to be who we should be. We should stand up for what we belive in. We should not back down just because hurtful actions and thoughts seem to be normal. We should believe in ourselves. It’s actually true that if you believe in who you are, you are more successful. The minute you drop the baggage of this image of who you think you are supposed to be and look like and act like, you will be better for it. You will be this raw person who actually cares about him/herself as well as others.
So, be like Joanna Gaines. Be who you are. Be kind, courteous and stand up for what you believe in. Let’s not get sucked up into the trends we promised we wouldn’t.
