Comments on: The Puppiness Project – Image vs. Identity

By: Eric Sawyer

Eric Sawyer — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:32:57 +0000

Great article, well written and informative. I wouldn’t know too much of the getting older.. seeing as im still young. however, the issues here are definitely being mandated by the over-bearing images of attractive people being forced on all of us. But life is about whatever you want it to be, and the only way to really be happy is to live for yourself. 🙂 please check out my articles, I’d be very interested to hear what you think of them.

By: Amy@GoPetFriendly

Amy@GoPetFriendly — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 11:52:53 +0000

This getting older thing really sneaks up on you, doesn’t it? I remember thinking a couple of weeks ago as I prepared to jump off a rock on a hike “when did I start jumping like I was 90 – minimizing the impact so it wouldn’t hurt so much?” What happenned to the days when I jumped without thinking about the landing? The gray hairs are multiplying and the metabolism is slowing down, but in my head I’m still 24. I’m going to fight it for as long as I can. As of today, yoga is back on the schedule and decisions about what I eat will be influence less by instant gratification and more by my desire to stay active for the next 50 years.

By: melF

melF — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 04:40:50 +0000

What a great post Pamela. Dogs can teach us so much.

Just a thought (I actually stole it from an episode of What Not to Wear), but is it possible that the reason you don’t see that fit person is because you’re looking at the outside in versus the inside out? I don’t know what fit looks like, but I am guessing that it’s not the same for everyone. Personally, I admire you for being so fit of mind and body. 🙂

By: Pup Fan

Pup Fan — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:01:40 +0000

I totally get where you’re coming from – my weight has gone up and down like a roller-coaster over the years, and I’m not sure I’ve ever been really happy with how I look, no matter which end of the scale I happened to be on at the time.

I do think that the media (particularly magazines with their unattainable photoshopped images) manages to get in our heads and warp our view of what we see. It’s everywhere – for example, how often do you see an article about what a male politician wears or looks like? Compare that to the mentions of the looks/attractiveness of female politicians. I remember taking a women in media class in college and being appalled at some of the things I learned.

I think the point you make here is great. What’s important is how we feel and who we really are – not necessarily how others perceive us. Having met you, I can confidently state that you’re awesome. 🙂

By: Georgia Little Pea

Georgia Little Pea — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:45:59 +0000

In the last couple of years, I feel I’ve aged a lot. I’ve always looked a lot younger than my 50+ years so it’s a new experience. After a knee surgery and fixing my hyperthyroidism, my weight ballooned by 10kg in 6 months. Whatever I do (reducing food, eating less passionfruit tarts, keeping up with my capoeira classes), nothing can bring the weight or my belly down. I cover my grey hairs with colouring because it’s not (yet) the snow white head I want. As for my wrinkles, sun and liver spots – well, too late to do anything about those. Like it or not, the way I look now has affected my thinking. Shame on me, but I’m now behaving like an old lady ;p

Yeah you’re right. We do have a lot to learn from our dogs.

By: 24 Paws of Love

24 Paws of Love — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 04:02:23 +0000

Most of the time when my self confidence is up and I’m feeling good about myself and look in the mirror, it hardly ever matches what I feel about myself on the inside. Other times when I look and I’m not happy with myself then it matches. So which one is true?

All the dogs have Sibe in them, they are not suppose to like water and yet some of them can’t stay out of it they love it so much. Yes, they have lab too, but even Brut who has no waterdog in him, loves swimming in the lake.

Who says what we are suppose to be, except for ourselves. You go Girl!!

By: Kirsten

Kirsten — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 21:22:50 +0000

The thing is that you are way harder on the person in the mirror, than other people are when they see you….we all amplify our faults way out of proportion to what they are. If you’re getting out and doing stuff that makes you happy, and feeling love and joy in your heart for Honey, then you are the essence of beautiful and healthy!

Getting around by bike is awesome, isn’t it?

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:23:21 +0000

In reply to Roberta. Thanks, Roberta. I'd love to go for a bike ride with you. :)

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:21:54 +0000

In reply to houndstooth.

You’re right that it’s harder to do good things than to do bad things. I think our entire culture is set up to reward bad decisions.

It’s one of the reasons I’ve enjoyed being part of the Voluntary Simplicity movement. It feels good to kick back against the culture sometimes.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:20:36 +0000

In reply to Jan.

One of my many entrepreneurial ideas was to provide a supportive website with products for overweight people looking to improve their fitness. Part of it would be doing outreach to athletic products stores to show them how to create a less intimidating atmosphere for newbies.

I think it’s a great idea but I just don’t have the courage to do it.

But I do think judgment and unrealistic bodies are causing people to lose heart. BTW, do you know that even fashion models are being airbrushed in ads to look even thinner?