What Is Beauty?

[Highway54]

Seriously. My mother and I were just discussing this. Why is there such a focus on image today? The way I see it if you're obese that's very unhealthy, but if you're as skinny as as stick that's just as bad if not worse. So how exactly is beauty defined? How does one have the perfect body anyway?

In all seriousness beauty is in the eye of the beholder maam.

 

[Riven]

Good genetics. Everything else is preference.

 

[Tessa]

I agree, that is why God looks at the heart.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I see it's been a while, but I wanted to chime in. It's a great question and one that has been debated for ages. Beauty is subjective and can mean different things to different people. Today, there is definitely a focus on image and physical appearance, but it's important to remember that true beauty goes beyond just the surface.

Well, you know what they say...beauty is only skin deep, but ugly go all the way to the bone.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I dunno

Part of God’s work in my life has been to make me not homely. Funny thing? I guess because I am me everyday I didn’t notice when my dreams of being healthy not homely and not prematurely aged came true…,

And then on my 38th b day mama made some positive comments and seemed happy and also surprised. So I looked in the mirror at my place and…

Redemption in my case or rather a part of my redemption. A weakling former sinner made whole in Christ. So…

Looks affect one’s life considerably. There’s research on this. It’s rather frightening. Ugly people are judged more harshly and in more moral terms..bad evil etc…

Than average or above average looking people. So I’m thankful to have been delivered from all that and from the premature aging…

With the latter I think if it as being forgiven for my sins and blessed with a new life with good health etc.

Sorry to ramble. Dealing with one’s appearance isn’t all vanity. A friend her uncle is a plastic surgeon in Colombia and he’d say that he’s cured more depression than any psychiatrist ever. I think he may be correct …

 

[Riven]

Dealing with one’s appearance isn’t all vanity. A friend her uncle is a plastic surgeon in Colombia and he’d say that he’s cured more depression than any psychiatrist ever. I think he may be correct …

It's true. At the risk of giving into vanity myself, when I am feeling a little down, I go into the bathroom, have a look in the mirror, and remind myself that it could have been so much worse. Lol.

Let's not get it twisted though. There can be times when it's inconvenient. For example, a few weeks ago I had to get a cervical scan done to assess the damage from the car accident I was in. I was called back and as soon I took my sunglasses off, the woman there began commenting on my "beautiful green eyes" and got very touchy feely. Very.

I go to the store and it's less touchy feely, but some of the female cashiers will flirt with me. Making the person putting items in the bags very uncomfortable. Which I find quite humorous. I even have had other males compliment my appearance and even ask me out. Which can be a little awkward, but I take it as compliment and in stride.

But beyond the purely sexual aspect of it, I do notice that complete strangers will treat me better than others. It's actually noticeable. I sometimes wonder if it's the looks or my wonderful personality? Lol.

I think this concludes my torpedoing of my own reputation here on the forums.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I’ve been made sort of pretty in an apparently classical way. Apparently my maternal grandfather was beautiful and aged into pretty. So…

I’m glad to not be sickly homely prematurely aged etc. I also have thick wavy hair where I was once balding and the color looks like a quality dye job. I’m glad to have hair at all…

The taunts about my so called highlights are a little frustrating though. Even my parents asked me a month or so ago if I was dyeing my hair. That was kind of a downer. It’s reddish brown…not unheard of lol

But yeah. Fun to not be homely etc. for me I see it as a larger work of redemption in Christ…

The blessings poured out upon the things that aren’t…

 

[GodsGrace]

I see it's been a while, but I wanted to chime in. It's a great question and one that has been debated for ages. Beauty is subjective and can mean different things to different people. Today, there is definitely a focus on image and physical appearance, but it's important to remember that true beauty goes beyond just the surface.

This is true.
But it's too simple.
I think we need to make the best with what we've got.
I'd rather see a well groomed man than one that does not care about himself and that makes it obvious.

I guess you see the cover of the book first.

 

[Christ_empowered]

Exfoliating is basic self care. It is for me anyway…I’m not keen to back to having premature aging. Eek

It’s beyond basic self care that things can get complicated. Botox etc are toxins. Fillers can damage the skin structure and over plumping is a distinct possibility. Deep chemical peels can permanently alter skin pigment and often require medical care pre and post peel.

With aging…

What strikes me is how very little anyone can do. The deep peels and laser peels might knock 5 years off one’s appearance. Not terribly impressive considering the costs risks and…

It’s actually 2023, so as the population grows older overall I suppose we’ll all have to just deal with aging? I dunno

 

[Riven]

Exfoliating is basic self care. It is for me anyway…I’m not keen to back to having premature aging. Eek

It’s beyond basic self care that things can get complicated. Botox etc are toxins. Fillers can damage the skin structure and over plumping is a distinct possibility. Deep chemical peels can permanently alter skin pigment and often require medical care pre and post peel.

With aging…

What strikes me is how very little anyone can do. The deep peels and laser peels might knock 5 years off one’s appearance. Not terribly impressive considering the costs risks and…

It’s actually 2023, so as the population grows older overall I suppose we’ll all have to just deal with aging? I dunno

It's all about aging gracefully and not ending up like Madonna.

 

[Christ_empowered]

As a dude it’s basic self care. I have female relatives who’ve had plastic surgery and…

I dunno the facelifts looked good vs wrinkles but I wouldn’t say they really looked younger…

 

[Fastfredy0]

RE: What Is Beauty?

I find the answer every time I whisper: "mirror, mirror on the wall ..." :wink

 

[GodsGrace]

RE: What Is Beauty?

I find the answer every time I whisper: "mirror, mirror on the wall ..." :wink

Oh yeah?
Send a pix!

 

[GodsGrace]

It's all about aging gracefully and not ending up like Madonna.

Men seem to be better at aging gracefully.
Women fight it all the way.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I dunno

I’m 38. At 20 I looked 25. Eek probably easier on me socially than for women but harder than for heterosexual men. So…

Somehow I now look noticeably younger than my age. No wrinkles or noticeable wear and tear. I’m thankful. So…taunting about “chemical peels “ and such aside I see now how much society values looking…

If not youthful then younger than ones actual age. And…

I had hair loss at a young age. I have a widows peak now but thick healthy hair no gray hair. Again I’m thankful. My hair loss was deemed irreversible at age 20 if that gives you any indication of how burned out I was. So…

What strikes me now…as someone who did not have plastic surgery and who could not have afforded even to attempt to contain the damage through a dermatologist or something…

Is how the appearance of youth and overall appearance is a huge industry. I know…captain obvious lol …

But I didn’t truly get it until after God made me healthy and whole and improved my appearance. Now I’m just…blown away. And it’s every aspect of personal appearance…

Mama let her gray hair grow out during Covid. She’d already retired and she was done . So she talked to me about what an investment of time and money something as basic as hair color was for her over the 25 years she chased the gray away. DIY…local hair place…fancier hair places near work…

All require time resources then specialty hair products and upkeep etc. oh man

Just…kinda crazy…

 

[Riven]

Men seem to be better at aging gracefully.
Women fight it all the way.

We're just too lazy to do anything about it.