Re: Excessive secretions

annette (nete1(AT)midwest.net)
Wed, 08 Oct 1997 17:14:44 -0500

At 04:24 PM 10/8/97 -0400, you wrote:
>In a message dated 97-10-08 14:48:14 EDT, CKSwedberg(AT)aol.com writes:
>
><< And, I might add, by what society considers valuable and beautiful. There
>is
> so much emphasis in our American culture on physical beauty. I certainly
> took to heart the messages in the advertisements, the popular songs, the
> movies, etc. Using our culture's expectations and values as a yardstick, I
> measured myself and found myself to be lacking by a whole lot. If our
> culture only respected and valued beauty, well then, I certainly didn't
> count; thus, I made very judgmental and self-critical tapes in my head and
> played them over and over to myself. Their message? >>
> Carol, I have that problem, too! I will never be a beautiful and thin as
>Claudia. My glamour could never reach that of Diana. One doesn't have to
>have scoliosis to feel that way. I think it is what all American women
>experience to some degree. Youth is another high value trait that you didn't
>mention. Why do we we let this be done to us? Cindy
>
>
You know..I gave up on looking "the ultimate" years ago. I am what I am.
Oh there are days I feel like a blob....or my most widely used term, "a
butterball". With the love and support of my boyfriend Jim, he has helped
learn to be proud of who I am.

It took alot of years but I think it is happening. For years I thought it
was the chair, the scoliosis,,but since I have gotten the trach I feel like
I have to focus on the inner me. You know, the trach in a weird sort of
way helped me due that. I just try to look my best for me, not for what
others view.

Another thing that has helped is the support, info, and friendship of other
vent buddies like Carol, and especially Wicky..that make me realize I am
not the only one in the world experiencing the feelings, etc that I have.

Thanks guys...

Annette Hanna
nete1(AT)midwest.net