I guess we all know that Joan Didion said that ‘character – the
willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life – is the source from
which self-respect springs’. J-Diddy is right about most things, after all.
However, it’s something I have been thinking about lately. A
lot of our small life choices are connected to our self-respect and vice versa.
In short, if you’re living poorly – which I go through phases of doing –
something is wrong.
When I’m in a phase of drinking too much, not cooking enough,
my house is dirty and I am behind with my work, my self-respect is not doing
brilliantly. Of course, then a vicious cycle ensues.
I am saying this mostly because I have been watching a lot
of Queer Eye. Yeah, I know there
isn’t a lot of it to watch (eight episodes) but I have watched each of them
three times. I honestly feel that there is much to be learned from them.
It is true that it is ‘more than a makeover’. Yeah, people
can criticise all they like, say that Antoni only slices avocados and Tan just
rolls up the sleeves on things. (Actually, no they can’t. Try it. I will fight
you.)
It’s about self-respect. It’s about taking the pride in
yourself to bother. It’s about making an effort with what you have. That might
all sound very basic, but I struggle with it sometimes and so does pretty much
everyone else – even if we’re not, as Jonathan would say, totally strugs to
func.
Honestly, the power of that programme. It has not only made
me laugh, cry and swoon over Antoni in a Strokes T-shirt, it has reminded me
that there might be some good left in the world. We should all try our best to
live our lives with the grace, kindness and generous spirit of the Fab Five.
So… Use the good bath oil (thanks, Nora). Plant some Pound
Shop bulbs in pots. Do a facemask. Paint your toenails and don’t shave your
armpits, if you’re me. Wear your best knickers and do a dance around the
kitchen. Cook on a Sunday. Light a candle. Keep some herbs on the windowsill.
And watch Practical Magic whenever
you can.
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