Eye Of The Beholder

Beauty.

It's a funny word when you think about it.  That word conjures up something very specific in each person's mind, but usually is not the same to each person.  You know what beauty means, the word that is, maybe even the definition, but how it may "look" to you could (and likely may) be entirely different to the person sitting next to you.

What do I think?

I think beauty is a joke.  It's a cruel joke, but a joke nonetheless.  We live in a time and age in which the idea of beauty has become so corrupted, so very grotesque, that it is almost too depressing to think about.

Pretty much anyone in any magazine (minus National Geographic :)) has been altered in one way or another.  Almost every woman you see in the grocery store, Target, or on the street, has been done up in one way or another.  Make-up, fake nails, cellulite cream, stretch mark faders, false eyelashes, hair extensions and hair removers, fake bake, tummy-tuck, hair dye, anti-aging everything, teeth whitened/brightened/or just plain fake, botox, boob job, and the list could go on and on (and on and on...).

Natural... what's that?  Now don't get me wrong, I don't have a vendetta against any of the things listed above.  Some of them I have not only done, but genuinely enjoy.  But my point is, it's all just a joke, none of it is real, it's all just perception.  A carefully placed mirage.  An act.

There is little that I love more than to spend some good quality time gettin' all dolled up for a special occasion.  It's the best!  But it needs to be grounded in the reality that none of those things make up the real us, instead they are everything but that...

We are whole.  Without any additives, or any other "tives".  It's fun to have a fancy night, or if you like to do it every day, great, you are more motivated than I am!  Vanity becomes a problem when the illusion has taken the place of the reality.  Somehow a make-up-less face starts to be looked upon with great disdain, an ivory skin tone instead of tanned, or freckles uncovered, is something to be ashamed of, a few jiggles of cellulite are the bain of an existence... when those things become truth, that is when it has gone too far.  From playing dress up, to when the desire for beauty became a god, something that defines who you are.

When it really comes down to it, the whole "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" thing is pretty interesting.  It's basically saying that you define beauty.  Or possibly more, maybe even that we must have certain qualities in ourselves to properly "see" beauty.  A self-absorbed, pompous, or vain person is likely to look at everyone around and not see any beauty in them, because they believe that they are the most beautiful of all (mirror, mirror, on the wall...), it is what they "behold", but it is certainly not true.  Conversely, those who have true beauty inside of them are fully capable of both seeing and acknowledging the beauty in others.  Even better, they are not threatened by it!  What a truly wonderful thing, a gift and a treasure.

True beauty isn't a joke, but remember that everything on the outside is a farce.  We all wear a mask, but don't forget what's underneath... what really matters. 

So smile that beautiful smile of yours proudly.  You are gorgeous no matter what, but don't feel guilty about putting on some lipstick, I won't tell :)  You're beautiful! (Christina Aguilera anyone?)