Beauty

Beauty has gotten mixed connotations over the last few decades or at the most, a 200-300 years (just estimating). The definition of beauty differs between individuals and cultures. In addition, millions, if not billions of people are aspiring towards the goal of becoming more "beautiful". My personal, biological definition of beauty is fitness. Maybe not "muscle man/woman" fitness, but fitness as to make judgments on a person's outer symmetries which could be used as a prediction of good health. Biologically, outer beauty on a primitive level indicates fertility or virility; most likely to produce/carry healthy offspring. Of course, depending on the type of cultural influence, what is considered to be physically beautiful varies. However, as cliche as this may sound (or read), true beauty is truly from within. I can emphasize and be a witness to this.

Most of my life, it was difficult to tell who I will form a strong connection with based off of first glance. I've always had many acquaintances, but never a lot of close friends. And for the record, this never bothered me (well, it did when I was in grade school, but as I got older and more mature, I got over it). I prefer a small, close knit, tight circle of friends (2 or 3) compared to 100 people that I could barely remember the name of each individual. In order for me to become emotionally intimate with a person, I have to get to know that person on a deeper level and this involves embracing that person's inner beauty. This is what makes me want to draw closer to a person without wanting to try hard. It could be a person's outlook on life, sense of humor, spiritual maturity, compassion, laughter, or simply that person may have personality characteristics that are similar to mine, or not similar to mine. The point is, how a person carries him/herself plus their authentic energy from within is what I define as beautiful. Beauty never grows old and dies like the physical body; it only gets richer. Physical attractiveness is subjective and at the mercy of randomly assorting genes from two parents (basically, you have to hope that you've inherited what is culturally accepted as "attractiveness"; like gambling or...putting a penny into a wishing well, with a slightly better outcome).

Too add, beauty is something that is taught, not inherited (of course, my opinion). One has to be taught to be a loving individual of oneself and others. One also has to be taught to be strong, courageous, and humble. One has to be taught how to be a good teacher and a good listener. All of these qualities are the make-up that can't be put on a person's face to cover up flaws. Speaking of flaws, why not embrace them? While striving to become a better version of myself, I did find it hard at times to embrace what my society labels as a flaw. For instance: Don't have bouncy, long, wavy hair? Flaw. Don't have fresh, baby looking skin? Flaw. Is that a roll on your stomach? Flaw. I remember especially as a teenager and while I was in my early-early twenties, it was difficult to embrace flaws. But we're all physically flawed in some way; even on a molecular level (ever heard of junk DNA or random mutations?). I don't care if all of us had perfect facial symmetry and were body builders. We were meant to be what society labels as "imperfect" but the reality is, outside of everyone else's standards, we are indeed perfect the way we are. Emotional intimacy and true beauty begins with us. Then all of the flaws that you believed were once a major determinant of who you are, would dim in comparison to the inner shine that has always existed from within.

Be beautiful.