“Beautiful people do not just happen.”
A lot is written about the subject of beauty, and for what it’s worth, I’m going to add my two-cents to the conversation, since as a woman (and I’ll add that as a human being), it’s a topic that affects me as well. We each receive so many varied messages about what beauty is and the importance of it. My own concept of beauty has changed over time. I’ll share just a small part of my perspective, but I’d also like to know - what are your own thoughts on beauty?
I know that as a woman, I want to be seen as beautiful, valuable, and irreplaceable to someone. I think this deep desire is a really good thing–I believe it’s a God-given yearning. But I also feel strongly that beauty is not simply a physical thing–it’s a much greater and more expansive thing–it’s far more than physical. Beauty involves keeping our hearts and spirits alive, even when it hurts to move through grief and pain. I believe beauty is an ongoing process every day and every year of our life.
This quote sums up how I feel about authentic and lasting beauty. I know so many, including my mom, sisters, and other friends (male and female), who fit this description and who inspire me:
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” (Elizabeth Kubler Ros)
I believe to my core that WE ALL have beauty to unveil. May we find ourselves becoming ever more “beautiful” in the most expansive and life-giving sense. And may we actively fight to keep our hearts alive so that we may live and love more fully. More beautifully.