I would like to share an interesting experience I had last night at the gym. There is one young woman who always catches my eye when I see her working out. I marvel at her lean and toned legs which don’t seem to have even one ounce of fat on them. I often find myself feeling a twinge of envy as I look at her, especially since my own legs have been a source of much discontent for me over the years.
A Surprising Discovery
Last night, I noticed for the first time that this striking woman doesn’t just have toned legs, she is also dramatically underweight. I confirmed this fact with my husband, who described her extremely thin and “hungry.” I find it interesting that I never really noticed her malnourished state before, as it hit me like a ton of bricks last night. Her shoulder bones were protruding significantly, her arms looked bony and spindly, and her breasts were almost non-existent. How had I failed to recognize these features over the many months since I’d first seen her?
What We Focus On…
What I realized is that my lapse in notice was related to my area of focus. I had been so steadfastly transfixed on this woman’s lithe legs that I noticed little else about her. All I could see were those legs which I so deeply admired and coveted. I’ve done the same thing with a close friend of mine as well as my mother-in-law. Both women have long and lean legs and although both complain about their “potbellies” and the need to drop pounds in their midsections, I never noticed any excess weight on their frames. Why not? I only looked at their slim hips and thighs and pegged them as thin women as a result. If I forced myself to shift my focus to their areas of discontent, I was then able to see that which they lamented. It’s all about my focus, the filter through which I view myself and others.
