Growing more Beautiful with Age

What does it mean to be beautiful? The perception of beauty had changed with the times. In the 1600-1700’s having a very full voluptuous body was a sign of health and wealth. In the 1800’s a large butt and tiny waist was the vision of beauty. The 1900’s brought many changes to the thought of beauty:

• 1920’s- Flat chested and slim, hiding all your curves was the preferred look
• 1930’s- Great arms and legs were the goal
• 1950’s- Curves are back with curly hair and pink cheeks
• 1960’s- Now you need to be thin again with out curves and the emphasis is on your facial features (big lashes)
• 1970’s- Tall, thin, and tan. Weight loss and fitness becoming a popular goal
• 1980’s- Big hair, lots of makeup, and tone fit bodies
• 1990’s- Flat tummy’s and the ½ shirt

Now, with all the technology at our fingertips, beauty is at an all time unattainable level. Perfect body, perfect hair, flawless skin, and fashion needs to be up-to-date and always changing. Even the models in the magazines don’t meet the perfection criteria. They are helped out with technology to erase their fine lines and extra curves where the editors find it necessary.

Webster’s definition of beauty is: the quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.

The history of beauty trends only addresses the physical look or fashion of the time. While the definition describes it as qualities that give pleasure to the senses, mind and spirit. Maybe we have been cutting our perspective short on what is beautiful. What gives pleasure to our minds, spirits and all the other senses? The answer is different for each of us!

For me, as I see myself change little by little in the mirror over time…I am getting the fine lines… grey hairs are making an appearance… I have had two kids…what is Beautiful? Is it perfect skin? Is it a figure with just the right curves? Is it the right highlights? Is it the right color of lipstick? All of those things can be considered attractive (appealing to look at), but I believe beauty is much deeper than that.

I want to grow more beautiful with age. In fact, I believe it takes time to grow into the kind of beauty I want to be.

• I want to be confident in my self no-matter where I am or who I am with.
• I want to be compassionate for those hurting or in need.
• I want to have an open accepting heart with everyone I meet.
• I want to have lines around my eyes because I can’t stop smiling.
• I want to have strong abdominal muscles because I laugh a lot.
• I want to have a healthy body, so I can actively run, swim, hike, and walk all over this amazing planet.
• I want to be gracious and appreciative of all the blessings in my life.
• I want to glow a bit because the love I feel for my life shines right out of my soul!

These beautiful attributes can be built on over time, bring pleasure to the mind and spirit, and are not bought at a store. They start on the inside and they just shine through to your outside. If you have ever met a little old woman and looked into her eyes and they sparkle with the wisdom, compassion, and joy of years well lived, you know the kind of Beauty that I am talking about. We all have that beauty with in us. Stop waiting for the magazines to tell you what is beautiful and let the One Amazing You shine through!

Cheers,

To the One Beautiful You