How my time in Brazil has changed by my perception of Beauty

Someone posted this video on facebook the other day. It's about our perception of beauty and how quickly it can be influenced and changed. I bring it up because it's something I've been noticing in myself lately.

You see, in Brazil the beautiful body image is far larger than the one we have in the US. America has somehow gotten to a place where as thin as possible is being glorified (we can blame photoshopped models or whoever, but that's beside the point). I'd heard people say that girls that skinny weren't actually as pretty as the culture made them out to be, but I never saw it myself. You see, growing up I went through a phase of being the fat girl, and at times I still battle that mentality. Thus, skinny was always better.

I've noticed several times recently how skinny American actresses are. I think it comes from the more common body type in Brazil that is fuller. I see this everyday, even on TV. I have become accustomed to this body type, which this video says has changed my understanding of beauty and health.

I don't have anything particularly life-changing to add to the conversation, other than to say I have experienced this changed of perspective over the last year. It's true, this happens. Our perception of beauty is entirely dependent on our culture and what it values. Lets not get wrapped up in a beauty that is fleeting with age and culture and time period.

Guest posting at Godspace!

Today I am honored to be a guest writer over at Godspace, part of the ministry of Muster Seed Associates "a networking hub for Christian imagination and innovation enabling individuals, families and communities of faith to create new forms of spiritual practices, sustainable lifestyles and sustainable communities locally and globally for life in these turbulent times." Enjoy!

Have you ever read a book called Companion to the Poor? It’s about a man’s journey living and preaching in the informal settlements of Manila, Philippines in the 1970-80s. There is one line that continues to resonate with me even years after I read it. I don’t remember the exact wording, but it was an exhortation to recognize the difference between when sin is the cause of poverty and when poverty is the cause of sin.

He gave several examples of what this means, but it’s basically this. There are some people who make bad choices and they end up in poverty because of it. But then there are people who are already living in poverty and chose to sin because they don’t see any other options for their lives.

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