USA

I apologise profusely for the length of time this blog has sat not being updated. I really don’t have an excuse. Except lack of time really. I had a blog written just after Easter, but my internet was not in a good mood and crashed, taking my latest entry with it.

I am currently writing this from a plane on my way from Sydney to LA. That’s right; I’m flying to Los Angeles. I am embarking on my first actual holiday since I was 15. That’s the age I was when I started working. Since then, I have juggled working with, firstly school, then university. Every school break was spent working.  But, didn’t I spend 3 months in the US, just a little over 2 years ago? Yes, yes, I did. But, I worked the entire time (give or take a week). So, you see, I really haven’t had a vacation in a long time. So, now I am embarking on a 5 week USA holiday, Contiki style.  Should be a lot of fun.

But, back to the blog. About health and fitness. Mental, physical and emotional.

It feels strange to be writing about health and fitness when I currently have a cold. Yes, you read that right, I have a cold. Not a very severe one. Not even one where I feel like coughing up a lung. No, just one of those annoying ones where my throat hurts in cold weather, and first thing of a morning, and my nose is rather stuffed of a morning. That sort of cold. Thank god I’m heading to warmer climates.

I have a friend from work, M, who I think is the sort of friend everyone should have. She’s the type of friend to knock on your front door as she walks in. She’s the type to turn up unexpectedly. She’s the one who will phone and say ‘a movie starts in 30 minutes, do you want to go?’ She’s also the type of friend who will hit you over the head if he thinks you are being ridiculous.

Comparing myself to anyone and that if I do I’m stupid. She told me other things too, but they really aren’t fit to post here. But see what I mean about everyone needing a friend like her? Thought so. I really believe that we all need a friend to give us a reality check when we get like that.

Which leads me to what my deleted post was about: comparing ourselves to others and how that impacts on our mental health.

The next time you compare yourself to others, be it that you think you look better or worse than the person you are comparing yourself to, think about how you feel, mentally, about yourself.

I have been trying to do that over these last few weeks, and I’ve noticed some things.

Firstly: I compare myself more often than I think I do. Even something as simple as ‘she has the same shoes as me’.

Secondly: Who I compare myself to, and whether it’s in a negative or positive light, is dependent on what my mood is like. If I’m in a negative mood, I tend to compare myself in a negative way, and find very thin people to compare myself too. Things like ‘she’s so much thinner than I am,’ and the like. On the flip side of things, if I’m in a positive mood, I tend to compare myself in a much more favourable light. More like ‘She’s so thin, but I’m glad I’m not quite that small,” etc. I compare myself to make myself feel better or worse, depending on whether I’m in a good or bad mood.

Thirdly: comparing myself to people makes me more aware of what I want, in life, for my body, in looks etc. I want to be thinner (an Aus size 10), so I compare myself to people who are that size or smaller. I want to move out of home, so I compare myself to people around my age who are already out of home. I wish I hadn’t dyed my hair blonde a few years ago, which in turn made a lot of it fall out, so I am envious of people with thick hair like I used to have.

Essentially, I am comparing myself to people who have what I want.

This is not always a bad thing. It can drive you to try harder to get the things you want, give you focus when you start to stray. Just remember to use them as motivation, and not just as the end goal. It’s all about remembering that everyone is different, and that what works for someone who has what you want, or what you think you want, may not actually work for you, or in reality, may not be what you actually want or need at all.

Take the time over the next week or so, to notice who you compare yourself to, and in what light. Think about how you feel about yourself when you compare, and after you’ve done it. Then think about why you’re comparing in the first place. Are you jealous? Do you want what they have? Or is there some other reason?

I’m going to kick back and watch a movie now. Then maybe try and sleep a little before I land. Got my bottle of water, my lollies, and my ipod. I’m all set.

Enjoy your week. I know I will.

Dxo