A Rhino will never be a Unicorn

First, before I can go any further I have to make this clear: THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS UNICORNS.

I will give you a moment to process that. 

Ok, if you are ready, let's move on. 

A few months ago I saw this t-shirt and I fell in love. 

Honestly, what's not to love? It's brilliant. The rhino with his aspirational photo of a unicorn-- running his behind off on a treadmill. It's priceless, right? It at least gave me a chuckle. I bought the t-shirt and shortly after I put in my delivery address I had a second thought . . . rhinos will never be unicorns.

It was a rather strange revelation about body image. Rhinos will never be unicorns. It does not matter how much that rhino runs, how many calories it burns, how shapely it becomes, in the end, it will still be a massive grey rhino and not a shining white horned horse. And, you know what, there is nothing wrong with being a beautiful, massive, grey rhino. Nothing. 

Because here is the reality: you cannot change what you are, but you can be healthy and happy being who you are. I have seen so many people desperate to fundamentally change who they are by changing their outward appearance. Here's the thing about outward appearances-- you can change them, but only to a level. If you are rhino, you will always be a rhino. Now, you can be a lean, mean, rhino fighting machine-- and that is wonderful, in fact it's a great aspiration to strive towards, but you will never be a unicorn. Unicorns are imaginary. 

Unicorns are the supermodels of the fictional animal world. They are perfect. Tall, beautiful, a coveted creature. But much like supermodels, they are mostly a work of fiction. 

Yes, supermodels are not fictional horned horses-- they do in fact exist in real life-- but do they? Do they really? The amount of air brushing, plastic surgery, and *physical enhancements* that go into creating most supermodels (ok, there are some that are just freaking gorgeous-- the gods smiled upon them and us mere mortals do tremble) lead me to believe that largely they are fictional. Attempting to become a 'supermodel' is a bit like a rhino becoming a unicorn. It's not gonna happen. 

Recently, I've been all about taking better care of myself. Getting in shape. Losing some of the *ahem* poundage that needs to go. I've always had a decent body image, but the older I get (and errr wider) the more out the window that has gone. As I embarked on this new challenge I kept thinking about that running rhino. No matter how much weight I lose, I will never be tall, or willowy or super thin. I'm not built that way. I am short, curvy and even with less of me, I will not grow another five inches. I will never be tall and statuesque. I will instead probably be short and curvy for ever. And you know what-- that's ok. As long as those curves are healthy, as long as I am leaner and fitter (and in fighting condition) than really, it doesn't matter. What matters is that I am healthy. Not that I push myself to attain a level of perfection that is frankly imaginary. 

Because, even if I'll always be a rhino, at least I'll be a healthy rhino and not chasing after an illusionary idea of perfection.

There is only one horned horse like animal in nature-- a rhino, and its fabulous. 

Go team rhino!