Last night my sister Liz and I saw the movie Barbie! I am very happy to report back that the movie was terrific fun and had a very clear message about the complicated world we live in and how important it is to be kind, love ourselves and accept that we are on a journey and will always be living in an ever-changing environment.
The following quote is from the turning point in the movie and very much focusses on women (Ken was also cared for by the end so boys – you were carefully represented too!) but really these following words apply to all of us … and when I heard this speech, I very nearly stood up and shouted “YES!!!!” See what you think…….
“It is literally impossible to be a woman. We have to always be extraordinary, but somehow we’re always doing it wrong.
You have to be thin, but not too thin. And you can never say you want to be thin. You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean. You have to lead, but you can’t squash other people’s ideas. You’re supposed to love being a mother, but don’t talk about your kids all the damn time. You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people.
You’re supposed to stay pretty for men, but not so pretty that you tempt them too much or that you threaten other women because you’re supposed to be a part of the sisterhood. But always stand out and always be grateful.
You have to never get old, never be rude, never show off, never be selfish, never fall down, never fail, never show fear, never get out of line. It’s too hard! It’s too contradictory and nobody gives you a medal or says thank you! And it turns out in fact that not only are you doing everything wrong, but also everything is your fault.
I’m just so tired of watching myself and every single other woman tie herself into knots so that people will like us. And if all of that is also true for a doll just representing women, then I don’t even know…..”
I left the cinema having had a giggle with my sister but also reminded that we are all in this life together – moving alongside one another in time – trying our best every day; sometimes getting it right and maybe sometimes not. But we are all managing what life throws at us as best we can and we will all need to be resilient and strong to cope. And we will. But occasionally we might just need to take a breath, step back and relax… and show ourselves some love. Cx
#Barbie #BarbieTheMovie #selflove
