One thing that has been a recurring thought in my life is how the perceptions of society tend to have an overriding influence on our own perceptions. We live in a culture and a society that has taken it upon itself to redefine things like beauty, success and even what a ‘real’ man or woman looks like. What is worrying is not only that society gets to do this at a whim but also that we don’t stop and question whether or not society could be right or wrong.
I think that beauty is something that has been so warped that many of us have believed the lie that “beauty is only skin deep”. I have a few close female friends that I have had the opportunity to discuss this idea of beauty with and they feel that the pressure that is often placed on them by society is not only unfair, but suffocating. A beautiful woman by today’s standards is one who shows off a lot skin with exaggerated physical features. This perception of beauty is so far from the truth that it is difficult to believe that it has gained such popularity.
Now I don’t claim to hold the absolute truth about beauty but I believe that beauty lies in the essence of a being or object; it is seeing things in their true essence that we are able to see the beauty in them. A tiger killing its prey is beautiful because, in essence it is a fierce and powerful creature that was created to do just that. Not to say that women are like tigers or anything but in the same way women are beautiful when they are caring, nurturing, loving, and free to be who they want to be. A woman who loves herself is a beautiful woman.
The definition of beauty provided by society is so shallow and narrow minded that it has proven to be the only thing that is skin deep. Beauty cannot be what we define it to be or we’ll live in a world where we can’t appreciate and celebrate the diversity of people we live with. Beauty is an objective truth that shouldn’t be confined by our finite human perceptions. So let’s enjoy the beauty of all people and the world we live in.
Stay beautiful.
Penseés 