The Meaning of Measurements
The other day, I had the opportunity to attend a health and fitness exposition. While I was there, various counters were set up to measure glucose levels, blood pressure, cholesterol, heart rate, lung capacity, etc. Something that was quite apparent to me, was that most of my measurements were low. My blood pressure is 96/64, the blood sugar level was 62 and my lung capacity, even for an ex-smoker was below 90. These low measurements, I was told, were a sign that I was in good health.
I began to think how much we place a value on measurements in our society and their importance. Are we a society fixated on measurements? For a woman, sizes are especially important. For example, a woman with a DD bra size is considered voluptuous, and someone wearing a size 4-6 in clothing is considered appealing. For a man, his attractiveness or level of appeal may be measured by the size of his penis (yes that particular organ again), his muscles or his weight.
But what about other aspects of our being, our soul and how they are measured? For example, can we measure our patience, or ability to accept others for who their are without judgment or condemnation, or our level of tolerance of others?
If the truth be told, I am not a very patient person. In fact, one of my true downfalls, is my lack of patience, and if there were a barometer to measure this level of my being, it would surely exceed a triple digit number if that were possible.
To me, those very qualities which we cannot measure in actual numbers are those that are to be valued most in our society.
For today, Tisha B'av, as I fast, I will be certain to measure my words, thoughts and actions towards others in the best way possible.
Thank you for your minds.
I began to think how much we place a value on measurements in our society and their importance. Are we a society fixated on measurements? For a woman, sizes are especially important. For example, a woman with a DD bra size is considered voluptuous, and someone wearing a size 4-6 in clothing is considered appealing. For a man, his attractiveness or level of appeal may be measured by the size of his penis (yes that particular organ again), his muscles or his weight.
But what about other aspects of our being, our soul and how they are measured? For example, can we measure our patience, or ability to accept others for who their are without judgment or condemnation, or our level of tolerance of others?
If the truth be told, I am not a very patient person. In fact, one of my true downfalls, is my lack of patience, and if there were a barometer to measure this level of my being, it would surely exceed a triple digit number if that were possible.
To me, those very qualities which we cannot measure in actual numbers are those that are to be valued most in our society.
For today, Tisha B'av, as I fast, I will be certain to measure my words, thoughts and actions towards others in the best way possible.
Thank you for your minds.
14 Comments:
I totally agree with your train of thought. There are so many things that determine who we will be as people, that cant be measured. Confidence, self esteem, being kind, patience (which I lack too), your ability to forgive and forget, etc. Those things are all very important to me, and yet you can never fully measure them. And just when you think someone possesses those traits, you find out they really dont.
I keep lecturing my mother on the importance of us eating right, her with diabetes and heart disease, and I smoke almost two packs a day. What a hypocrite.
Sixty-two is very low for blood glucose. Research shows that driving with your blood sugar below 80 is equivalent to driving under the influence of a few drinks. So please be very careful today as you fast!
Speaking from personal experience, it's possible to become obsessed with measurements as indicators of health and well-being. As you know, beautiful soul, I'm struggling with that right now. I only eat whole, unrefined foods, I do strength training with free weights and/or cardio 7 days a week, yesterday I hiked 8 miles, and I have a body mass index of 19, so I'm healthy, right? Wrong. I have gestational diabetes, asthma, Graves' disease, and degenerative disc disease. When these things consume my life, as the diabetes and GD are doing now, I get sucked back into obsessing about the numbers again. When will I turn my attention to the less measurable indicators of well-being, like feeling centered, rested, open-hearted, optimistic?
Thanks for the reminder. May peace be with you today. {{{hugs}}}
We place way too much value on measurement and not nearly enough value on self-discovery.
One measurement I am keeping track of is days left before Bush is out of office :)
Here, Here, Lazy Iguana!
Among my favorite numbers, indeed!!
It seems like we measure everything these days...Big or Small...Wide or high....From cars to houses to... How big your bank account is...Everything is measured...We should focus more on that we do have a car to drive and a house to live in...Instead of the size....Just my thought!!
the benchmark is clear and readily accessible: do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
Measurements and listings of numbered items have a long history -- consider the 10 commandments, the 40 years in the desert, etc. of Jewish thought. Things are just wrong, however, when we use measurement to gage completely superficial things as car size and wealth as an indicator of anything other than what it is. For instance, even in cultural events like movies and books, we spend more time talking about the "top ten blockbusters" than the product's quality.
Congrats on your good health! My numbers are actually pretty decent, considering that I'm overweight.
One of the measurements that I find people noticing is salary. In our capitalist society, your worth is, literally, measured in your WORTH. This really bothers me. Personally, working in the non-profit world, I'm never going to have a big salary. I find myself feeling inferior when I learn that friends of mine literally make twice as much money. But then I get mad at myself for feeling that way. It's a bad cycle.
PC- great point. Self-discovery, or the art of unraveling, discovering and disguarding is indeed not appreciated enough.
Aral- you are so right about people being overly concerned about their salary and income and using it as a measure of self worth.
Neil the history of numbers in Judaism is most definitely noteworthy.
WW- I find the value of your friendship to be unmeasurable.
Be well to all!
Interesting post. Interesting comments. Bravo.
We do what is easy. Taking measurements is easy. THINKING is hard. You have to think to discover what is actually important.
#s seem to be how we judge others, usually unfavorably, too fat, not rich enough, must have....
this is leading to a rise in anorexia and other eating disorders in young childrren. it's not only a mid/upper class white girls disease any more.
goes back to your prior posts - we must learn to be more understanding of eah other and human frailities.
have a good week.
Good News on your health! (smiling)
Being judgemental was discussed here this weekend, in regards to blogville it is pleasure not to judge someone (1st thing) by their appearance instead by understanding their words, compassion, and faithfulness etc.
Even if all this visual was available we should still not be in judgement of others. Good Post and Message!
I think we all have a problem with patience to a degree! Thanks for your email to me over the weekend, it was very much appreciated. (smiling)P.S. Wish my numbers were that good!
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