Body Image

This is a repost from my Tumblr blog, I've decided to start writing my personal blogs here...

I’ve recently been compelled and inspired to write this blog post from a number of sources, but chiefly from a recent article in The Huffington Post dealing with male body image and a few late night heartfelt text message conversations with a good friend. I usually just reblog Disney, musical theatre, and LGBTQIA rights blurbs, but I honestly felt compelled to jot this all down and maybe it can help someone out.

For those who don’t know me personally. I stand at a statuesque height of 5’4 (5’5 on a good day). I was a premature baby by three full months. Doctors say that if I went full term I would have probably wound up around 5’7 or 5’8, but that is beside the point. Since I am of a shorter height, my weight distributes differently than it would the traditional male model. I have fuller thighs, a pooch in the front, a larger butt, and most recently I’ve gained a fuller face. In 2011 I was a 30 size waist, but now I am around 34. I am also very hairy. EVERYWHERE. There’s not much I can do about that though as both sides of my family are loaded with hairy men, so it was pretty much a given for me.

I am also a proud member of the LGBTQIA community. Would you believe that someone actually told me that they would pursue dating me if I got rid of my body hair? Yup, it actually happened. I am a pretty confident person and am primarily an extrovert, but if there’s one thing that gets to me it is the way I look, especially my body hair. I actually fell into a slight depression all fueled by what people said about my apperance.

As a queer community, we preach for acceptance in society, but then instantly label gay men on their appearance. I used to have a big problem being called a “bear” or “cub”. I would cringe. Beauty to me at the time was what was seen as more conventional. I’ve recently started over the past year or so to embrace my appearance as it is.

So, what if I’m a “cub” or whatever, I hope that the man I am with at the end of my life loves me for being Seth and not for whatever appearance label is put on me. You know what? Body hair is sexy, y short height is unique, and my small belly would be a good cuddling pillow. I will always embrace what makes me myself. I’ve started to own everything that makes me Seth and even when people still get on me about my body hair, I remind myself that it’s what makes me who I am in a way.

I shaved off my body hair once. I wasn’t happy. It’s all about perspective. I am also starting to learn to embrace my growing belly. That one I’m still working on, but it will come in time. This post was inspired by a very heartfelt recent conversation via text with a very good friend of mine. We’ve talked a lot about body image over the time that I’ve known him, and he’s helped me more than he will ever know.

So, if you’re a twink, a cub, or an otter, embrace what makes you yourself.  Even better, stop obsessing over your own appearance and embrace what makes you a good, well-rounded, and interesting person. I am a cub, but at the end of the day I’m also an activist, a performer, a camp counselor, a student, a friend, a brother, a son, and so on. I am me, and you should be YOU!