Sunday, December 16, 2012

The Definition of Beauty

You buy expensive shampoo for $42 dollars a bottle. The conditioner is $42 dollars more. This shampoo makes your hair smell like lavender and sunny summer days. You slip into your lavish robe, tossle your hair with creams and straightening oils, blow drying it so your bangs tickle your eyebrows and your strands lay in loose curls at the ends framing your heart-shaped face. Foundation, bronzer, blush, eyeshadow, mascara, eyelash curler, eye-liner and lipstick. In that order. Your little black dress is hanging nicely on your steamer, without one wrinkle tarnishing it. You feel good tonight. You look good tonight. You feel beautiful.

I feel like when people think of beautiful, they think of the glamour, face value definition of the word. Full thick long hair, big lips, bright eyes, curvature of their hips, and being a size two. The definition of beauty is too concerned with your outside appearance - what you present to the world when you're viewed walking down the street. Have you ever had a night when you feel beautiful? Of course you have. You feel the eyes lay on you and the saddest part is that feeling, that rush is what gives you satisfaction. You did good. Your outfit compliments your body, that expensive shampoo has done your hair a favor and your makeup is natural, yet flattering to your skin tone. It's impressive to everyone around you and they don't even know you. You are percieved as beautiful, as desirable, without them even knowing your name or your story.

I think the definition of beauty is a little distorted. I believe we're approaching it from the wrong outlet. Just because your physical attire is attractive, doesn't mean you are. Don't get me wrong - there is nothing wrong with feeling good about your appearance and taking care of yourself - being proud of the way society views you at first glance. There is nothing wrong with workin' it. However, I think before people describe you as beautiful, they should find out what is or is not beautiful about all of you.

What do you do when no one is around? Who are you when no one is looking? The best judgement of someone's character is how they treat the people that can do nothing for them. When you pass someone on the street who has dropped their groceries, do you take the time and stop and help them? Or are you checking your lipstick in the nearby mirror? When a friend is going through a tough time, do you stay in and talk to them until 2 in the morning? Or is chatting it up with the hottie at the bar number one on your priority list? Are you the girl that vents all of your problems, expecting friends to drop their plans, but never finding the seconds to return the favor? Are you spreading rumors about someone whose heart would drop if they found out just for the sake of drama? Are you the girl who expects to cut in the line for the bathroom at the bar because "you just dont wait in lines?" When your grandma calls to check in on you and it's a bad time, do you call her back when you're about to go into a store so the conversation time is limited? Are you falling for attention that comes with the lies and deciet just because that's what everyone else is doing? Having an ugly persona hidden underneath of your beautiful outward appearance makes you ugly. Unfortunately, this is something that only gets revealed as time progresses, but time reveals all secrets. Make sure you remember that. The definition of beauty should be less about how the world views you after judging you on a scale of 1-10, and more importantly focused on your heart, and the selfless ways you extend to others who can do absolutely nothing for you.

Victoria Soto, the sweet teacher in the Conneticut shooting, had a heart so big for her kids, she selflessly gave her life over theirs. I'm sure you've seen her picture. She is very pretty, but after reading her story, I think we all can agree that is the definition of beautiful. Make sure your story is worth reading too.

If your beauty on the outside was a direct reflection of your beauty on the inside, just how beautiful would you be?

xo,
-A

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