As a follow-up to my last post,  I offer you a brief yet serious commentary on the subject of beauty, in a culture obsessed with physical “perfection.”

We’ve heard so many “quotes” to temper our gullibility, to warn against judgement based on physical appearance. For example:

Beauty is only skin deep

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Handsome is as handsome does

We allegedly get it, on an intellectual level.  Still we expend so much energy working to achieve some (one’s) ideal of physical beauty.  Young women and men trying to meet the standards of the moment…Such pressure to put on oneself.  [“If only I had straight hair/flawless skin/perfect teeth. Then everyone would like me; then someone would love me.”]  And for those who feel that they’re failing?  Where does it leave them?  Scarier still, where does is lead them?

Here are my own words of wisdom. Feel free to quote me:

Beauty doesn’t require perfection.

Perfect doesn’t mean beautiful

You can have all the “right” physical qualities, but if you are ugly on the inside, it will show on the outside.

Imperfect does not mean unloveable.

And you know those things you hate about the way you look, those things that, when you look in the mirror, are all you see?  Guess what?  No one sees them the way you do!  When others look at you, they don’t see your  too-thin upper lip, your crooked nose, or that crease between your brows.  No, they don’t.  They look in your eyes and see the goodness in you, the spark that makes you who you are.  And they see that you are beautiful.  And when you look in the mirror, so should you.

Madwoman Yoda has spoken.

[cue music Beautiful by Carole King.  I know, it’s kinda hokey.  Tough on you.  I love this song]