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Wednesday, December 27, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Commentary...
The curse of comparison
By Audry Van Houweling, PMHNP
Columnist
It is human nature to
compare ourselves against
others. There has always
been a pressure from genera-
tion to generation to “keep
up with the Joneses.” Of
course, who the “Joneses”
are has changed over time.
For instance, you have had to
replace those lovely harvest
gold and avocado appliances
once so chic with white or
black and then to stainless-
steel, and now somehow
smart appliances that can
order your milk for you.
The way in which we
compare has also changed.
If we go back a century,
our means to compare was
based primarily on face-face
interactions had with neigh-
bors, co-workers, family
members, and people within
our immediate communi-
ties. As transportation and
media progressed, we gained
greater exposure to different
beliefs and lifestyles that we
could then contrast against
our own. The means for gos-
sip and comparison contin-
ued to expand with the tele-
phone, email, the cell phone,
the smart phone, and then of
course, social media.
For many of us, log-
ging into our social media
accounts has become as
habitual and normalized
as drinking water or eat-
ing and in fact, without this
ever-present doorway into
each other’s lives, some of
us can indeed feel deprived
or disconnected. In this two-
dimensional world, we are
often presented with each
other’s best moments — fil-
tered, edited, cropped, and
portraying a social ideal that
is in many ways unattain-
able. As we scroll through
our feeds however, it is
hard not to judge ourselves
against the smiles, high-
lights, and achievements
posted by our peers.
Furthermore, we feel
compelled to capture the
very “best” of ourselves
and then measure our social
standing by how many likes
or positive comments we can
collect.
As a woman, I feel this
phenomenon to be particu-
larly pervasive. Women and
girls are already expected
to achieve unrealistic stan-
dards; our tendency to peo-
ple-please, hide from vul-
nerability, and cover up our
flaws is taken to a new level
with social media. Many of
us strive to portray perfec-
tion in our appearance; per-
fect family photos; our rela-
tionships; motherhood; our
impressive exercise routine;
and our financial success.
In the end, our need to
compare and attempt to keep
up with the Joneses comes
from a deep need for valida-
tion and acknowledgement.
Everyone wants to feel
important and noticed from
time to time, yet in put-
ting forth an edited and
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The Center Foundation
will be conducting ImPACT
Concussion Baseline test-
ing for children ages 12
through 17 years who have
not already received the
baseline in the past two
years. Group testing will
be on Wednesday, January
3, 2018, at 10 a.m. and
Monday, January 15, 2018, at
9 a.m.
Baseline tests are held at
The Center, 2200 NE Neff
Road in Bend.
According to the CDC,
concussions are second
only to auto accidents as the
leading cause of childhood
injury. It is estimated that 15
to 20 percent of high school
athletes receive a concus-
sion in any given year, and
if an athlete returns to play
before the brain is fully
healed, the child is at risk
of second impact concus-
sion syndrome. The Center
Foundation is pleased to
offer this community ser-
vice as a means of helping
protect young brains. It is
recommended that student
athletes have a baseline test
every two years. ImPACT
Concussion Baseline test-
ing is a computerized
“snapshot” of how a child’s
healthy brain is functioning;
the test takes less than an
hour.
The baselines are NOT
MRIs or scans.
Baselines are electroni-
cally stored for use in the
event that the child receives a
concussion. Should the child
suffer a concussion, he or she
will then be able to have the
baseline compared to a post-
test conducted by a medi-
cal professional following
the injury. Post-concussion
tests and assessment will
be handled through par-
ent or guardian self-pay or
insurance.
The cost of the baseline
is $15. Registration for the
baseline test is required;
contact Lauri Bonn at
541-322-2321.
Sarah Conroy, Chiropractor
Schedule
online!
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Jeff • Theresa • Ann • Jamie • Shiela • Terri • Shanntyl • Brittany
e
of lov
or
A lab
SISTERS DENTURE
filtered version of who we
are, the acknowledgement
we receive can feel shallow
and dissatisfying as we con-
tinue to trade an idealized
image for authenticity. This
can ultimately be isolating,
especially if the allure of
the two-dimensional world
supersedes opportunities for
three-dimensional, face-face
human contact.
Using social media as
the platform for self-por-
trayal can ultimately rob us
from the feeling of being
truly known for who we
really are. Thus, despite our
widespread connectivity,
many of us continue to feel
lonely, misunderstood, and
unfulfilled.
Bringing awareness to
our social media habits is
a crucial first step to mak-
ing change. A social media
hiatus can be very refresh-
ing. Recognizing the fal-
lacy and unrealistic stan-
dards portrayed on our
social media feed is impor-
tant. Prioritizing face-face
relationships where you
can express the totality of
who you are is paramount.
Appreciate the achievements
of others, but embrace your
own uniqueness. Be the best
version of yourself — not
someone else.
Schedule baseline
concussion testing
s
Siste e r d!
n
Ow
“O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light.”
541-549-6471 | 35 Years Experience | Peter Herman, Owner
• Locally owned and operated
• Large natural & organic selection
• Meat cut & ground fresh daily
• Huge bulk-foods department
• Only 20 minutes from Sisters
Located in the Cascade Village
Shopping Center, Bend
Open every day, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Happy
New
Year!
From all of us at
Hours: M-F 8 to 5, Sat. 8 to 4:30, Closed Sundays
440 N. Pine St. • 541-549-8141 • www.hoyts.net