Although I try to avoid advertising, its impossible to escape from the seemingly contact barage of adverts trying to make us buy products to make us younger, more beautiful and slimmer.

I can only assume that some people are really stupid enough to fall for this bullshit?

There is no miracle cream or pill that will make you look like you a slim, gorgeous 20 year old.  With the advent of Photoshop, even the models used to sell the products don’t really look like they do in the ads.

And why would I want to look like that anyway?  If there was such a pill, everyone would be taking it and we’d be back to square one.

I’m smart, I’m funny, I’m healthy, I ok looking – not hideous, not gorgeous.  Isn’t that enough?

Why is it so important to remove the signs of aging from our faces?  Crows feet – I prefer to call them laugh lines.  Why would I want to remove the evidence of laughing?  Laughing so hard enough that the tears roll down your cheeks and you can’t breathe – thats something to be proud of.   Thats a scar to remember!

The acne scars, faint now, show that I survived adolesence and went on to mature into the woman I am now.

The occasional scars from chicken pox, when I was 18, mostly hidden under my hair (thanks to Mum telling me to scratch the ones on my head).

The lopsided smile that only becomes even when I grin – no cream will fix that.

I am average looking.  And I’m ok with it.  My friends and family don’t care what I look like.  They love me for me.  My wacky off beat sense of humour, my zest for life, my love of animals and my caring for others.  These are the things they like about me.

So if we rule out friends and family, who are we all supposedly trying to impress?  Strangers?  Well why would they give a shit whether I have unblemished skin and my fine lines are diminished.   I certainly don’t care about whether someone has wrinkles, beautiful long lashes or tiny pores.

As for all these get slim quick schemes, thats all they are.  The only thing they do is line someone’s pocket.  Dr Atkins I can only assume is worth a fortune.

I have a great scheme to lose weight, its called eating less and exercise.  Radical!  I should sell it and make a fortune but the problem is it takes time and people want to believe they can loose all that weight overnight.   The only thing you stand to loose quickly is your bank balance buying this crap.

It comes back to the saying “if it sounds too good to be true, it is”.  There is no “get slim quick” fix.   There is no “wonder cream”.

Eat less, exercise more – for fitness, not weight!  Wear sunscreen, laugh & love.  We are all dying of a terminal disease called life – make the most of it before its gone.

(and don’t forget to recycle! 🙂 )