Jimjilbang is a common word you hear when living in Korea, and an activity I've come to enjoy immensely since moving here. What is it, you ask? It's a gender segregated public bathhouse. Of course, we've all heard of them, but not very many people from the western hemisphere are use to spending their Sundays relaxing with their family at them. Now, if most of you know me, you know I'm not one to flaunt what I've got in my "itsy bitsy, teenie weenie yellow polka dot bikini"--but if I had one, that might change! Needless to say, I'm mildly conservative, so the idea of getting bare naked and sitting around in hot tubs and saunas for all the ladies to see gave me slight anxiety. However, since meeting some marvelous ladies, they've opened my mind to the amazingness of the jimjilbang.
While freely relaxing at the jimjilbang and talking to two girlfriends of mine today, we discussed the fact that going to nude spas in America is not a regular outing for people or families. Which then lead to the topic of Americans having body issues, which is protocol for jimjilbang conversation, right?
Here's where it gets real.
When I am at the jimjilbang, it's not about who has the best body because they only ate two crackers that day, or who has been working out the most. It's about people making themselves happy by treating their body to necessary relaxation and detoxing. There are so many girls and boys that are growing up feeling they need to look a certain way because that's what "everyone else is doing" or their favorite teen idol wears a size zero so they need to as well. I, for one, have never ever in my life worn a size zero, nor do I want to. Yes, I'll admit that I've definitely had a bad body complex. I've told myself that my thighs are too big. And recently I've realized my neck and chin are becoming one at a surprisingly young age--BUT when I think about all of the positive things I have going for me, those things seem to dissipate. What I'm really trying to say here is not that America needs to get public baths so everyone can feel comfortable in their body because no one is perfect..blah, blah, blah. What I'm saying is that it's time for people to start accepting the body they have, being proud of the genes they were given, and treat their body as it's meant to be treated.
I understand that to some this is a hard concept for one reason or another. Maybe it's time some of us step out of our comfort zone and try something bold and courageous. Who knows, you might just find yourself sitting completely leafless in front of 50 Korean women.
Stay true, stay real.
H.
