Dove soap has a new campaign where they show a video of a woman is made ready for what appears to be a typical ad campaign. She is a woman who is beautiful before they even begin working on her - a natural beauty by most standards.
But then they begin to change her to match what our society now believes is beautiful. They put a team of make-up artists and hair stylists to work on her and then take some of the windblown glamor shots we're used to seeing.
But they don't stop there.
The computer artists take the photos and begin to change her features...bigger eyes...a longer neck...a thinner face...no blemishes. When they're done, we see the type of woman who we often see on the cover of the fashion magazines. She is no longer the natural beauty. Even she doesn't look like herself..
Imagine what this kind of digital magic is doing for the self-esteem for women of all ages?
We're comparing our looks to the pictures of women who don't even look like that themselves. Cindy Crawford was once heard to say she wished she looked like Cindy Crawford. Oprah Winfrey says it takes a team and a day to get the cover picture of "O Magazine."
Let's give ourselves a break...let's start to think about what true beauty is. We each have much more of that than we realize...
Haven't seen the Dove video...check the link above.
More on this later...
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Friday, October 20, 2006
Why can't adults use technology??
Why aren't the adults in your life as good with technology as you are? Do you make fun of them or think they're not as smart as you? Have you ever really thought about why they can't program their cell phone or use an Ipod or set their TIVO?
Before we answer that question, let's go one more. Are there life situations that wish you could handle better? Maybe you wish you could drive or deal with people without all the drama. Or maybe you wish that you had all the things figured out that your parents do - a good job, a spouse, a house.
Ok..now for some answers. Different things take on importance at each stage of our life journey. When we're kids/teens, we have the time to play around with all that "My Space" can do. We create cool sites and really can check out all the features of the technology around us. Yes, you have school to go to each day but once the homework is done (and the after school activities/part time job) you've got more time on your hand than an adult does.
The adult has to go to work, run the household, take you to all the things you can't get to because either you don't drive yet or don't have a car, pay the bills, shop for necessities, cook, clean, and maybe if they're lucky, have some time for a social life. There is really very little time to see all that their cell phone can do. They get one, learn what they really need and move on. So we ought to be a bit understanding that they don't measure up to our tech skils because they just don't have the time to practice.
The adult on the other hand has already lived through their teen years so they know how to navigate the difficult waters of dealing with the things teen must deal with. Plus, they already know how to drive, get a job, kepp a job, find a house, furnish a house, raise a family, cook, and clean. All things that teens must learn if they want to be successful in their lives. Most adults know how to do many more things - some fly planes, some paint, some are champion runners, and some play drums.
I can't say I've heard too many adults make fun of teens because they couldn't do something that really didn't make sense for them to do just then. No rolling eyes because a kid doesn't know how to drive or deal with stress. As adults, we know that with time and practice, teens will learn how to do the things that are necessary. Why make fun of teens because they can't do these things...that would be cruel and just doesn't make sense. We love our kids...why would we laugh at what they can't do?
How about we look at adults the same way? So what if they can't download songs onto an Ipod? If they really wanted to know how, they would. But learning how might take up the time they'd rather spend doing something much more important. Spending time with you...
Bottom line...it's all about how we treat each other. Let's give each other a break...and try to see things from their view. After all, isn't that what we want for ourselves?
PS...maybe you could show them how to download...after all, they're probably going to teach you how to drive!
Before we answer that question, let's go one more. Are there life situations that wish you could handle better? Maybe you wish you could drive or deal with people without all the drama. Or maybe you wish that you had all the things figured out that your parents do - a good job, a spouse, a house.
Ok..now for some answers. Different things take on importance at each stage of our life journey. When we're kids/teens, we have the time to play around with all that "My Space" can do. We create cool sites and really can check out all the features of the technology around us. Yes, you have school to go to each day but once the homework is done (and the after school activities/part time job) you've got more time on your hand than an adult does.
The adult has to go to work, run the household, take you to all the things you can't get to because either you don't drive yet or don't have a car, pay the bills, shop for necessities, cook, clean, and maybe if they're lucky, have some time for a social life. There is really very little time to see all that their cell phone can do. They get one, learn what they really need and move on. So we ought to be a bit understanding that they don't measure up to our tech skils because they just don't have the time to practice.
The adult on the other hand has already lived through their teen years so they know how to navigate the difficult waters of dealing with the things teen must deal with. Plus, they already know how to drive, get a job, kepp a job, find a house, furnish a house, raise a family, cook, and clean. All things that teens must learn if they want to be successful in their lives. Most adults know how to do many more things - some fly planes, some paint, some are champion runners, and some play drums.
I can't say I've heard too many adults make fun of teens because they couldn't do something that really didn't make sense for them to do just then. No rolling eyes because a kid doesn't know how to drive or deal with stress. As adults, we know that with time and practice, teens will learn how to do the things that are necessary. Why make fun of teens because they can't do these things...that would be cruel and just doesn't make sense. We love our kids...why would we laugh at what they can't do?
How about we look at adults the same way? So what if they can't download songs onto an Ipod? If they really wanted to know how, they would. But learning how might take up the time they'd rather spend doing something much more important. Spending time with you...
Bottom line...it's all about how we treat each other. Let's give each other a break...and try to see things from their view. After all, isn't that what we want for ourselves?
PS...maybe you could show them how to download...after all, they're probably going to teach you how to drive!
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Mid term report cards
Well this has been way too long! Time to getting back to the reason I created this blog in the first place - to help teens get through the challenges in school and in every day life.
For most of the US, school is already at least a month and a half old. Everyone has a pretty good idea of what the year is shaping up to be, what each teacher is like, and what the tough spots are going to be. Mid term report cards which we called either progress reports or interims are either just coming out or just did. How did you do and better yet, what do they really mean for you?
These give you an idea of where you stand at one moment in time. They tell you if you're on the right track in a particular class or if you need to make changes. They should not be a reason to panic but I know many students who did just that. Of course if you did well, you don't really need a strategy from me other than to say, don't rest on your laurels...in other words, don't forget that you need to keep up what you've been doing right.
But for those of you who didn't do as well, here are a few tips:
1. Talk to your teacher and find out what you can do to improve. I know you don't know your teacher all that well yet but it's a good idea to let them know that you care about how you do. At this point in the school year, your teachers know your names but they don't really know you well yet. With over 140 students each, anything positive you can do to let the teacher know more about you help get you in the direction you want to go.
2. With the teacher's help or on your own, come up with a plan to make changes.
2. Show your parents your progress report even if it's not good. If you want to get your license when you're 16 1/2 or do any of the other things you want to do, you have to show your parents that you deserve their trust. Best plan? Tell them you already talked to the teacher and you already know what changes you're going to make to do better. (Make sure you actually do talk to the teacher first!)
OK....now take a deep breath and get on with the school year. It's only one progress report and you still have lots of time to get those grades where you want them to be!
Good luck!
For most of the US, school is already at least a month and a half old. Everyone has a pretty good idea of what the year is shaping up to be, what each teacher is like, and what the tough spots are going to be. Mid term report cards which we called either progress reports or interims are either just coming out or just did. How did you do and better yet, what do they really mean for you?
These give you an idea of where you stand at one moment in time. They tell you if you're on the right track in a particular class or if you need to make changes. They should not be a reason to panic but I know many students who did just that. Of course if you did well, you don't really need a strategy from me other than to say, don't rest on your laurels...in other words, don't forget that you need to keep up what you've been doing right.
But for those of you who didn't do as well, here are a few tips:
1. Talk to your teacher and find out what you can do to improve. I know you don't know your teacher all that well yet but it's a good idea to let them know that you care about how you do. At this point in the school year, your teachers know your names but they don't really know you well yet. With over 140 students each, anything positive you can do to let the teacher know more about you help get you in the direction you want to go.
2. With the teacher's help or on your own, come up with a plan to make changes.
2. Show your parents your progress report even if it's not good. If you want to get your license when you're 16 1/2 or do any of the other things you want to do, you have to show your parents that you deserve their trust. Best plan? Tell them you already talked to the teacher and you already know what changes you're going to make to do better. (Make sure you actually do talk to the teacher first!)
OK....now take a deep breath and get on with the school year. It's only one progress report and you still have lots of time to get those grades where you want them to be!
Good luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)