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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Emergency services Computer crash hit Tuesday paper, website Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Local gas prices lowest in years Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency services Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Two injured in Hayes Hill crash OSP finds 68 pounds of marijuana in car during traffic stop Emergency services Politics and Elections Local gas prices lowest in years Ads attack Dotterrer and Bates Oregonians not in party mood Sign wars rage again in Phoenix Democratic contender not conceding victory to Walden Education Medford Schools Foundation supports programs the district can't Fire marshal visit prompts cancellation of Sacred Heart haunted house Kids Unlimited Academy awarded $450,000 grant County helps fund RCC job training SOU student says free speech issue overblown Environment Local gas prices lowest in years Where do all those leaves go? 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Hundreds look for work at Harry & David hiring fair Umpqua Holdings more than doubles net earnings Harry & David will hold hiring fair Thursday Opinion Latest Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Measure 89 provides equality for women Granlund cartoon: Haunted White House 2014 Southeast center offers new approach to growth Editorials Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable Southeast center offers new approach to growth Our View: Cost is a poor excuse for local pot tax Don't bet on pot windfall for schools Our View: SOU's 'free speech zone' constitutionally questionable Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Oct. 29 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 28 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 27 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 26 Guest Opinions Measure 89 provides equality for women Eagle Point needs public transportation Guest Opinion: Common Core testing sets math students up for failure Guest Opinion: Campaigning and voting 'the Oregon way' Guest Opinion: A glimpse into the reality of our elections Lifestyle Latest stories 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Oct. 31-Nov. 2) Dear Monty: 10 tips toward a quality offer on a home Dave Ramsey: Extra savings takes away volatility Can’t get enough pumpkin-pie spice? 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Engagement Wedding: Potter-Hazel Wedding: Martin-Berg Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Theater Review: Funny 'Lion in Winter' roars to life at Camelot Theatre Camelot presents 'The Lion in Winter' 'Carnage' is short, smart, darkly funny Music Patty Griffin plays the Historic Ashland Armory Live Music in Local Clubs Southern Oregon Repertory Singers present harmonious voices, dissonant notes Beekeepers Ball is one sweet soiree Scottish music duo plays highland magic Community Events Puss 'N' Boots Costume Ball and Auction Theater's haunted house not for faint of heart Third Fridays in downtown Medford Works in progress Dining Back Porch Bar & Grill Yu's Yummy Yan's offers great take-out Agave offers tasty tacos Asian cuisine for all seasons at Misoya Bistro Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... Our View: Any new gas tax must be equitable ... Measure 89 provides equality for women ... Providence ready to go as Oregon ebola treatment center ... It Is What It Is: I feel pretty, oh, so pretty MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 27, 2014 @ 7:37 am Posted Oct. 27, 2014 @ 7:37 am » Social News By Lisa Sugarman Lisa Sugarman My forehead is just too darn high. I wish I had more thigh gap. This Bohemian-looking curly hair is throwing me over the edge. Why can’t I be just 2 inches taller? I wish I had thicker eyebrows. If only my index toe looked a little less like a finger and a little more like a toe. If you’re a girl, or, for that matter, a guy who has a wife or a daughter or a sister or a girlfriend, then you’re either saying or hearing things like this on a pretty regular basis. That’s because, according to the Dove beauty products company, only 4 percent of women around the world consider themselves beautiful. I say again, only 4 itty-bitty percent. That leaves another 96 percent who think they’re somehow flawed. And as far as I’m concerned, as the mother of two daughters and a girls cross country coach, that s**t’s gotta stop. I see it every day, girls beating themselves up about everything that they aren’t instead of celebrating all the beautiful things that they are. I see it with my daughters. I see it with my friends. I see it with strangers. Because, in addition to writing, I work in a school where I see it constantly. And it’s sad. It’s sad because if we siphoned off even a fraction of the time we spent feeling inadequate and repurposed it to honor the things that make us unique and beautiful, we’d put the anti-depressant drug companies out of business. Because, in the same way that muscle weighs three times more than fat; praise weighs at least three times more than criticism. Look, I’m sure it would take very little effort for me to write 800 words about the things I wish I could change about myself. In fact, I’ll bet you cash money that none of us would have a problem scribbling down a whole list of things we’d like to transform. But be honest, doesn’t it seem a little absurd to you that most of us focus on everything that’s wrong with us instead of everything that makes us beautiful? Because, when you think about it, conflict, at its roots, stems from unhappy people. And if people could just learn to be happy in their own skins, I think they’d be less inclined to bitch about, well, everything else. Cause in case you haven’t noticed, it’s very rare to find a truly happy person who’s also a complainer. You and I both know that most of us spend an inordinate amount of time obsessing over the things we wish we could change and not nearly enough time celebrating the things that make us the beautiful people we are. That’s because, somewhere back in history, some moron decided to come up with the phrase nobody’s perfect. And while that’s absolutely, 100 percent true, I think it may have caused almost all of humanity to try to prove that wrong and be the first. It’s just too bad that way back in the beginning, mankind didn’t interpret it the other way around and felt relieved by the idea that perfect is unattainable. I honestly think it would’ve taken all the pressure off every one to try to measure up. See, I know it’s become human nature to dissect ourselves, no matter how centered or grounded we are. We just can’t help it. Even in spite of our best efforts to withstand the temptation, we’re all more or less incapable of shutting off the urge to focus on our flaws. And I think that’s just because everywhere we turn there are always people around us who we just keep comparing ourselves to, even when we know we shouldn’t. We start out doing it as kids, always measuring ourselves against the faster or taller or prettier or smarter or more popular kids. And we keep doing it as adults, constantly comparing ourselves to the people we work with, or our friends, or our neighbors. Too many people have this crazy-looking yardstick that they measure everything against — one that measures things like stuff and status instead of heart and soul and inner beauty. To me, it seems like 96 times out of 100 the things we beat ourselves up about are actually the things that the rest of the world loves about us. Ironic, isn’t it? Let’s do this: Every time we get the urge to diss ourselves, do what George did on “Seinfeld” and reverse it. Do the opposite. Force yourself to replace the diss with something positive. It worked for George. His entire ridiculous life turned around and everything started going his way. So I feel like it’s got a good chance of catching on for the rest of us. So repeat after me: I feel pretty, oh, so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and bright! And I pity any girl who isn’t me tonight. There, now doesn’t that feel better? Lisa Sugarman lives in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Read and discuss all her columns at itiswhatitiscolumn.wordpress.com. She is also the author of “LIFE: It Is What It Is” available on Amazon.com. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Oct. 27, 2014 @ 7:37 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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