What
is beauty?
Recently I had to do a set of photos, and it got me thinking about beauty. What is it, and what illustrious God deemed it a goal for the unsuspecting to obtain? I think it started with the Greeks, maybe? What is that elusive quality of which poets write, and songs are sung? That quality scientists have studied and given weight of which our society measures itself against. Attractiveness, appearance, movement, color bright or dull. What is it that pulls or repels us? That other side of what we call ugly. For February, the month of love, I feel compelled to touch on this subject. To give my opinion and highlight what beauty means to me, and how it has evolved and impacts us socially.
Let’s consider it, shall we?
We’ve all seen or beheld beauty. It comes in many forms. Rain, snow, sunsets, a baby’s giggle, flower petals, a cat’s purr, or huge puppy dog eyes. An argument well placed, or game well played. These are all considered forms of beauty, of course. But, what about the physical? Not the spiritual soul of the person but the outward tangible presence of the human form.
What of that?
As humans, we measure ourselves against others. We compare and judge. We do this to fit in, to measure up or size up the supposed competition. We use it to measure our worth and to validate our reason for existence and success, however misguided that might be. For years, scientist have measured Attractiveness. They have found that symmetry seems to be key to an attractive face, but aren’t we more than this? I dare anyone to say that a single rose with various sizes of petals, is ugly. Not at all. It’s the combination of the whole that makes it beautiful. All the pieces fit and that beauty is something to behold.
Some may argue that it goes further than that.
Beauty is the springboard used to justify membership to a number of groups be it social or financial groups, sorority or fraternity, fitness, lifestyle or political affiliation, dare I say, and on it goes. It’s a key that opens doors, which would not open if we weren’t viewed as ‘belonging’ simply by the nature of appearance. Depending on the political climate of the day, this perception can change.
But who’s to judge? By what measure is this ideal obtained? The standards for feminine beauty are arbitrary at best. To borrow from an online essay from an IPL (Internet Public Library) Website titled “Society Beauty Standards” reads:
Unrealistic beauty standards affect physical and mental
health ….
According to the Straight/Curve website, about 70% of
teenagers think that the ideal body type can be found in fashion magazines,
while only 5% of women naturally look that way and about 91% of women diet to
achieve what they feel is the perfect body size.
If you want to read more, please click here
Different countries have different ideas of beauty and social standing. However, the idea of beauty is beginning to have a huge impact on our society. Unfortunately, women and young girls are the sole targets. There is a rampant proliferation of YouTube influencers, rife with beauty improvements and ideas of artifice. I never knew anything about ‘baking’ until it was demonstrated on one of these sites. Whoa!
Young people are being misguided into thinking that beauty is all-encompassing, and without meeting a particular standard, they have failed. This cannot be further from the truth, and I can’t say this loudly enough. To be healthy, bodily healthy, and mindfully healthy should be the goal. No amount of concealer, diet pills, or sculpting gimmicks will give you that. A healthy body weight, especially in these current times, is paramount. I don’t want to mislead anyone to think I’m referring to those who are considered under or overweight.* I’m speaking of what is healthy for you. In my opinion, combine that with a spiritual sense of self and you can’t go wrong.
That is beauty.
A beautiful smile, broad and toothy, silly or flirty - heck, just grin. Twirl, jump, embrace life and give lots of hugs. A good book or study a work of art. Love with abandon, kiss deeply and often, and give with all the heartfelt enthusiasm that is so easily displayed, it’s a beautiful moment too, if not a bit esoteric. These are beautiful acts, and although I’ve only touched on a fraction of them, I think you get what I mean.
As the years march on and age starts to steal what we
once had, this mantra becomes even more important. Who cares about the crinkles
around the eyes and smile lines when you’ve lived a good healthy life? Embrace
the message these announce to the world. Yes, you have smiled more than frowned,
laughed louder and more often than you care to remember. Even the waistline is as trim as it can be given the food you’ve enjoyed and the wealth of
recipes you have to share are priceless.
There is no one standard.
All people are beautiful. Young women, and women in general, are beautiful regardless of what the ‘standards’ will have them believe. No matter the size, shape, or manner of the female form or even the cut of a man’s jib. Men are a wonder, and we should not leave them out of any celebration of beauty. The width of his shoulders, height, waistline, or balding pate should be of no consequence. They are magnificent. Whomever a person is attracted to is who they are drawn to, regardless of appearance. It isn’t anyone’s place to judge.
Love, after all, is beautiful. And for me, self-love
is the pent-ultimate form of beauty at any age.
~DaMarie
Disclaimer: *This is in no way an exercise in body shaming or an attempt to highlight a health crisis or concern. This is solely an opinion piece on the ideal of beauty. Any reference to a person(s) is purely coincidental.
Keep up the good work.
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