"Beauty" By Debrina C

When looking at nature, one can be taken aback by the sheer beauty and intricacy of a single flower. When listening to a song one can simply lie back and revel in the beauty and craftsmanship of the lyrics as the wash over you. One can also find happiness is the feelings of love or compassion and can bask in the beauty of each individual feeling. When in a restaurant one's senses can become overwhelmed with the beauty of the artistry of the chef as each ingredient has its distinct scent. These images conjure up the idea that beauty is more complex with deeper analysis. However, the dictionary definition of beauty is a combination of qualities, such as shape, color, or form, that pleases the aesthetic senses, especially the sight. Standards of beauty and the definition of the word change constantly and evolve through time and can even vary based on geography, political stance, upbringing, education, societal standards, etc. and still continues to evolve daily. The thought that beauty is mostly visual is invalid as well as the thought that beauty could be summed up to something so simplistic as the eighteen-word summation of the feelings, thoughts, emotions, standards, and even identity. Not to mention society’s view that beauty is only on the outside “pleasing to the aesthetic sense” dealing with all outward qualities like shape, color, or form. Yes, we all have heard the phrases “it’s the inside that matters” or “don’t judge a book by its cover” but could beauty genuinely be that superficial? The even bigger question is society capable of summing beauty up to be that superficial or has society broadened the mindset and come out of the out dated thought process?
Beauty is more than what meets the eye and is a great deal more complex than simply or strictly surface level. Huffington post says in their piece What is the real definition of beauty, " It’s the images and moments that inspire and represent the most distinct and remarkable attractiveness of our souls. It’s the moments we feel free and real. It’s the moments we feel proud and eminent. It’s the moments we feel alive.” Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder and its definition is many things, but simplistic nonetheless beauty, as seen in the dictionary definition, is also very misunderstood and has been distorted and skewed due to many outside influences. Huffington post also claims “Beauty is often distorted, misunderstood and shadowed by a wide amount of conflicting pressures. It is something we endlessly strive for, rather than see into the true essence of our happiest moments.” Although the definition of the word beauty is complex the actual idea of it is actually quite simple, the meaning behind the word is acceptance, appreciation and open mindedness. Therefore, when someone searches for beauty they should find i not only in themselves but in the world around them because beauty is what you choose to make it but it is so much more than surface level. As a community, it is important to come up with independent ideals and not be influences by society's skewed views of beauty because even thought it might be cliché, everyone is beautiful in their own skin and should also feel as beautiful as they truly are.