DAY 12: SOMETHING YOU NEVER GET COMPLIMENTS ON
After writing yesterday's post, I laid in bed last night thinking about today's question. Something I never get compliments on? I guess this question comes with an assumption that I have something I think I should be complimented on but don't?
I mentioned yesterday that I have a difficult time accepting compliments- -so you can imagine I don't expect them. I really had to think long and hard to come up with a response to this question, but I finally did.
Something I never get compliments on is my white skin. While we had Summer Citizens staying in our apartments over the summer, I had some little old (leather) ladies tell me on a few occasions,
"you need to get some sun!" I just smiled and laughed.
You see, I haven't always been comfortable in my white, fair, freckly skin. I used to lay out in a barely-there bikini every day after school to get/keep a tan. When the weather got too cold for me to lay out, I bought a tanning pass. Just like every (most every) girl,
I thought I needed a tan to "look good."
And then I went on a mission. To Asia. Where e.v.e.r.y woman wants to be porcelain white. I even had a Korean companion who bought skin whitener (yes, skin whitener) to lighten her skin.
Who does that???
Tan skin wasn't always popular, you know. Centuries ago, white skin meant you were wealthy enough to stay inside while other people worked for you, and tan skin meant you were poor- -possibly even of servant-status- -having to work out in the sun. To some degree, Koreans still think that way- -and you realize how true it is when you see the people working out in the fields and selling their produce on the streets. I'd bet a pistol couldn't penetrate their skin.
Leather, leather, leather.
And then they see a little white American girl like me walking down the street. I wish I had a penny for every time a woman touched my face and said, "you look like a DOLL!!!" At first, I laughed and couldn't believe they wanted my skin!! I offered to trade with them a few times =0) But by the end of my mission, I realized I had something (by nature) that a lot of women would die for, and
I learned to love it.
So I'll stay out of the sun, thank you. Regardless of the cringes I get when people see my legs. And regardless of whether I ever get complimented.
After writing yesterday's post, I laid in bed last night thinking about today's question. Something I never get compliments on? I guess this question comes with an assumption that I have something I think I should be complimented on but don't?
I mentioned yesterday that I have a difficult time accepting compliments- -so you can imagine I don't expect them. I really had to think long and hard to come up with a response to this question, but I finally did.
Something I never get compliments on is my white skin. While we had Summer Citizens staying in our apartments over the summer, I had some little old (leather) ladies tell me on a few occasions,
"you need to get some sun!" I just smiled and laughed.
You see, I haven't always been comfortable in my white, fair, freckly skin. I used to lay out in a barely-there bikini every day after school to get/keep a tan. When the weather got too cold for me to lay out, I bought a tanning pass. Just like every (most every) girl,
I thought I needed a tan to "look good."
And then I went on a mission. To Asia. Where e.v.e.r.y woman wants to be porcelain white. I even had a Korean companion who bought skin whitener (yes, skin whitener) to lighten her skin.
Who does that???
Tan skin wasn't always popular, you know. Centuries ago, white skin meant you were wealthy enough to stay inside while other people worked for you, and tan skin meant you were poor- -possibly even of servant-status- -having to work out in the sun. To some degree, Koreans still think that way- -and you realize how true it is when you see the people working out in the fields and selling their produce on the streets. I'd bet a pistol couldn't penetrate their skin.
Leather, leather, leather.
And then they see a little white American girl like me walking down the street. I wish I had a penny for every time a woman touched my face and said, "you look like a DOLL!!!" At first, I laughed and couldn't believe they wanted my skin!! I offered to trade with them a few times =0) But by the end of my mission, I realized I had something (by nature) that a lot of women would die for, and
I learned to love it.
So I'll stay out of the sun, thank you. Regardless of the cringes I get when people see my legs. And regardless of whether I ever get complimented.
Dani you took the words right out of my mouth! I am pale as a ghost and proud of it! I wear sunscreen anytime I have to go into the sun and although sometimes my ultra-tan siblings tease me about being so white I think that I can rock it! At my brother's wedding this summer the difference in my legs vs. every other bridesmaid's legs was quite laughable. But I think pale is beautiful, on both of us!
ReplyDeletewell more power to you girlfriend!! that's awesome! i wish i was like that, but for some reason...you don't see as much cellulite when you are tan! haha! :)so yes...i want to be tan again! :) your skin will definitely be thanking you when you are older too! One of my favorite things to do is lay in the sun...i guess it's just the "California" in me! LOVE that you love the skin you are in! :)
ReplyDeleteexcellent point! I will try to love my white skin more...and that of others. Just so you know I really like reading these! I wish we could hang out more...or at all :)
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