You all know it! Maybe it has happened to you or maybe you are the culprit! I know I am! It
is a real technical term for when you see someone and one of the first
things you do is look them up and down from head to toe.
Whatever
your reasons are: checking
out a girl a the club, admiring some one's body on the beach, wondering
why a person put that outfit together...and the list goes on; it all
equates to some version of judging.
This
action was something I encountered many times when I was in Ecuador for
the CrossFit Latin American Regionals earlier this month.
I
came in contact with a number of people in the airport, hotel,
restaurants and they all inquired as to what I was doing in Ecuador.
*sidenote: probably everyone asked me this questions, but I could only
answer those that spoke English. When I replied that I was on a team
competing at Regionals probably 9 out of 10 times I got the "up-down"
Now, I know I don't look like Annie Thorisdottir or Camille Leblanc, but
I am reasonably fit! At first I took a slight bit of offense to this,
but then again, I don't know their reasoning for the look. I worked hard
to get to Regionals and whether I look like a poster child for CrossFit
or not doesn't matter.
The
best look
and comment I received during my time in Ecuador was from a woman who
didn't speak any English. I was speaking with her daughter and they
(like everyone else) asked why I was in the country. After I gave my
response the woman smiled, looked at my thighs, pointed, and made a
gesture to represent "big." She and I both laughed and I agreed "Yes, I
do have large legs!" Probably one of the best compliments I received
during my time in Ecuador.
Overall,
it doesn't matter if you are be judged. You never know what the other
person is thinking. Anyways, the majority of the time people give the
"up, down" has to do with jealousy. They either wish they were more
like you, or wish they could be with some one like you. I know the
majority of people I give the look to tend to be fit CrossFit chicks
(and a couple guys on the beach too...but don't tell my husband, I'm
just admiring)!
So
the next time you receive the up-down or a judging look, take it as a
compliment, smile and look the person in the eye and say "thank you"!
