Talk of Beauty

I have been called beautiful from time to time in my life. Some have used other kind words to describe me. Some chose to tell me these things regularly. Some wonder if I believe them. In response to kind words, I always give a smile and a thank you. I suppose my expression is what causes the doubt. Beauty is subjective. It depends on the styles and tastes of others. How I feel about myself has never depended on the views of others but lets talk of beauty. Beauty is found in so many places. People collect things that are beautiful. I was not made to be part of a collection. Beautiful things are put on display. They are admired on the surface level as they collect dust on a shelf. Nothing is needed beneath the surface. They are sometimes left behind and forgotten. Beautiful things are often delicate and breakable. They are tossed to the side when they wilt or lose their beauty. These are not things that I can be. People hang on so tightly to their beauty as if it will always be there, as if they are nothing without it. How grateful I have been that I am not flawless. Some are so focused on their superficial level that they lack the things that matter most. And what of beauty? At our core we are no different. Skeletons look identical to anyone who is not a scientist. We all started as tadpoles in the womb and we all end as skeletons and dust. The differences in what you see comes only from the distribution of tissue. I would rather be seen for my spirit.

Of all the things that I have ever wanted to be in the lives of others, beautiful has never made the list. Some believe that there is power in beauty but it is not the power that I wish to wield. The power that it has lies in manipulation. It is used for personal gain. It is used to herd a society through marketing. It is a pawn in the constant fight for the meaningless. That I was pleasing to the eye is not enough to sustain me especially when nothing that I consider valuable comes from it. So you say I am beautiful. I prefer to be chosen. What good is beauty if it doesn't bring me your loyalty? And how special should I feel to hear these words from you if I am just one of so many beautiful, meaningless people that you see in your life or that temporarily cross your path? I would rather be a wonderful adventure or a peaceful escape to one man than to be desired and viewed as beautiful to all the men in the world. And so I will always smile and thank those who would call me attractive and beautiful. They are kind words and they will always be appreciated as meaningless as they may be.