The Locker Room and the Visual Landmines That Await

I hate using the bathroom in my gym. This is due partly in response to my utter disgust at public restrooms in general, but the uncomfortable feeling I get walking into the locker room at my local Bally's is amplified by the amount of naked old people I see.

Why is it that walking around naked is acceptable in a locker room, especially when the subjects are far from their prime age? I have always wondered this, and silently wished these people would hold on to their towels and muster up some modesty, all while I fix my gaze on the floor with unrelenting intensity.

However, there is something to be said for those people who are unashamed of their own bodies. Why is it that the human body, in its natural phase of aging through no fault of the human itself, disgusts us? Why shouldn't we walk around in the buff, free from shame? If our body is our temple, shouldn't we praise ourselves and others who wish to strut their stuff? Why should I project my own insecurities at my not-so-six-pack stomach onto those who don't give a crap that their skin sags? It is almost admirable, the complete lack of modesty, because this is the lack of body consciousness, something I believe we should all strive towards. Learning to love ourselves, imperfections and all, could start with accepting others in their own skin, sagging or otherwise.

I'm not sure how much practice I will get out of this preaching, but I do think it is a good concept overall. Judging others by their looks or their weight is really a judgment on ourselves - projecting negative thoughts about ourselves onto others to make ourselves feel better. Acceptance of others, their jiggling thighs, cellulite, and baggy arms can help us accept our own versions of these bodies, especially as we grow older and inevitably endure these changes ourselves.

Well, its a thought anyway...Hi floor - glad to see you again.