Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for May 29, 2019

She’s worried that other men won’t look at her. She should just find a nice Bingo hall. Most of the other women there will have even flappier upper arms.

Wow, have I had this conversation several times with the same response.

Somehow, we guys will still feel responsible.

IMO…… she is not focussed on Arlo’s feelings……just her own opinion about herself and her own personal appearance. Women have a very difficult time liking themselves and their own physical appearance. IT must be embedded in our genes…..probably passed down through multiple generations of dissatisfied female ancestors.

How does a woman break this horrible train of thought that undermines self worth??? That’s what that ugly sounding ‘f’ word is for……clearing the mind of ancient disparaging comments passed down through the ages.

You see…. all the men here are thinking like Arlo…

Jimmy is good at this.

It’s NOT for you, certainly not for “other men” (what a commentary on trust) … and it’s not even for other women.

It’s for self respect….. unfortunately tied to an impossible ideal.

Men give lip service to the new freedom that 21st century women are supposed to have from this tyranny of culturally imposed, and well-absorbed, expectations…

But we know what they say if a woman gains 40 pounds, or doesn’t shave her legs….

though they’d expect NOTHING to be said to them in a similar situation.

And it doesn’t help to be relegated to a Bingo hall full of old women as soon as we don’t meet one particular expectation.

I do appreciate that Arlo thinks she still looks great…

and for me, in my heart, I’d rather listen to one man who thinks I’m attractive, than a chorus who don’t.

But he still has to realise how hard it is to drown out the other chorus… the one in our own heads.

No, it has nothing to do with any men. Janis is simply missing her younger body. The one that could wear anything…or nothing at all…and look fit & toned, rather than flabby & jiggly.

Poor Arlo. She doesn’t want to worry about interesting him because he is always interested. She wants a challenge.

Bummer. I guess that leaves out topless, too. Although I do feel that the looker should have as much say as the lookie.

Every woman’s fear-she is not desirable. And she bases that on what other women look like.

A declining self image….

If she could only see herself through Arlo’s eyes.

However, if he hadn’t said that…

she’s not old enough to be that worried about it yet but really the older you get , the less attractive it is – it ’s just hard to know when to face up to it BUT I think it is about the same time that men should stop wearing shorts ( because old man legs? mmm no)

Might be time for Arlo to ask, “Who are you trying impress, if it’s not me?”

I’ve reached the age (49) where my comfort is more important than what my arms look like. Sleeveless keeps me cool. I’d go topless except for tripping over my breasts. As a kid I always wanted big ones. I was a 36B at 10 years old. I was the 2nd tallest in elementary for 3 years. No fat though. I just wish I had realized than in my teens. Of course all the other girls grew & continued growing. 2 pregnancies and they always went back to their old size, just lower each time. Then at 29 thyroid stopped working. Guess what also causes big boobs-getting fat! So yeah no topless for me unless someone could create a little trolley to hold them up while I walk. Think about it-no bra stifling our breath. No wires digging into our sides! Engineers get on it! lol

Arlo has no control over this downhill spiral.

We are all our own harshest critics.

my gramma-in-law wore sleeveless shirts all summer long – I met her when she was 70 yrs old and she passed away at almost 97. She worked out in her garden, didn’t have A/C and wanted to be comfortable and cool in the warm weather – age should not dictate sleeveless shirts/dresses

she still looks yummy

See, I told you so, it’s about chicken wing arms!