The Attractiveness Theorem

20100910

Every iota, every shred of confidence I had, evaporated when I saw her.

How was I supposed to hold on to any sense of pride after I saw her on campus? Yes, her. Gorgeous Girl. What with her striking bone structure, wispy, shimmering blonde hair, flawless skin, piercing blue eyes and tiny frame. I immediately began hoping I was smarter than her. Funnier. More athletic. Anything--any superlative!--to help me regain the self-worth that had been so violently ripped out from under me.

Just as I was about to go home and self-medicate with Ding Dongs and stretchy pants, I came to a quasi-philosophical epiphany: Gorgeous Girl wasn't just pretty. She was debilitatingly pretty.

The implications of this were vast and unbounded! Immediately, my mind went into the throes of deep existential thought. Kierkegaard? Rousseau? Hobbes? Nietzsche? HA! Has-beens! Wannabes! Poseurs!

My friends, I present to you the Attractiveness Theorem. It's short, sweet, and slightly Machiavellian.

The ideal state of being is to possess enough physical attractiveness to help get you ahead in life, but not so much as to inhibit others from taking you seriously or appreciating your other qualities.

Allow me to elaborate. Studies in various fields have shown that an attractive person is more likely to get a job than an equally-qualified average-looking person. It's not mean, it's human nature. It's how humans have perpetuated and protected the species throughout eons of time. Why do men like blondes? Because traditionally, blonde hair has been a sign of fertility. Why do they like big, curvy hips? Because they're good for child-bearing. Big boobs? Good for nursing. (And bouncy and jiggly and stuff.)

Ah, but this goes both ways, you see! Why do women traditionally prefer athletic types? Because they're more likely to succeed in the hunt. Why do we prefer thick hair over baldness? It's a sign of youth and virility. 

We've all heard the saying "If you've got it, flaunt it." Here's the thing: Everybody has it. Forgive me for going all Tyra Banks on you, but I really believe that. But some people are what I like to call debilitatingly good-looking. The particularly pulchritudinous may never know whether they got the job on the basis of their personal merits because they are just too attractive. Wouldn't that gnaw at you, especially if you were extremely qualified and competent? So for those of you who find yourself in the 6-8 region of the 10-point scale: REJOICE!

***

It's highly likely that this is just roundabout way of making myself feel better over the fact that I don't have porcelain skin, that I couldn't fit into size 4 jeans if my life depended on it, that my teeth are big and slightly bucky, that my natural hair color is called "ash," etc, etc, etc.

But you know what? I'm happy. I got it.

Or at least enough of it, anyway.

3 COMMENTS:

  1. Kristi, I don't like the beginning of this post because you are GORGEOUS! I highly doubt this girl was prettier than you are. Seriously, you run 50 mile ultra-marathons-- There is no gelatin on your tummy. Of course you're not debilitatingly pretty, because you're also freaking smart. And the ash hair...wouldn't worry about it. Who knows they're actual natural hair color anyway?! ;) Haha nice theory, but I'm pretty sure you're also an insanely gorgeous girl!

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  2. I really liked this blog post! There are just some people you meet that are just SO pretty you can't stop looking at them.

    ( Oh, & I agree with Helen! You are STUNNING! and smart, and a crazy good runner, and musically talented, and a great writer.. I could keep listing things for awhile. :)

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  3. That was a great post. A little depressing at the beginning because I've seen beautiful people like that and it does make you just want to go home and get into some comfy pj's with a couple of ding dongs and such. But you are right about the fact that we are all pretty. You most certainly are m'dear! :) And I take comfort in the fact that even when I have a bad hair day and feel completely frumpy and unattractive, my husband still thinks I'm beautiful and Heavenly Father doesn't look my outward appearance, but on my heart ;) kinda comforting eh? hehe...oh and P.S. at least your hair color isn't called dirty blonde! That's my natural color! I'm a dirty blonde...hehe...

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