Beauty May Fade - But True Love Remains

I read an article recently claiming that beauty begins to fade at 27. It made me sad and angry. It’s bad enough many in our society go through life worrying about the size of their thighs or behinds, now we’re being told that there is a specific point in our lives when we begin the downhill slide to ‘old-age’. But even if it were true, does it make a difference when it comes to matters of the heart? Is it possible you have met your soul mate, but because their physical presence didn’t cause you to catch your breath, you missed your chance? If your priorities are for physical beauty, you may end up wasting a lot of time kissing frogs.
The ideal body image that the media portrays is solely determined by outward factors. But beauty is subjective; each one of us defines it in our own way. The truth of the cliche “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” makes it impossible to pin down a day on the calendar when beauty begins to fade. The message that society sends about beauty is not only dangerous to our health but also to our relationships. Young girls  refuse to eat to maintain a size ‘0′; young adults are exercise excessively to gain a bodybuilder’s physique and men and women of all ages are opting for cosmetic surgery, in an attempt to stop inevitable aging.
It’s true that the first thing we notice about someone is their appearance. But the people I’m most drawn to are not who you would call ‘pretty’ people. They’re every-day men and women who have confidence and charisma. Their specific characteristics are not always obvious but they have traits I’m attracted to and make me want to make a connection. They pay no attention to what is happening around them, but stay true to their own morals, ethics and life goals.
It may be outer beauty that first makes individuals stand out in the crowd but their inner beauty is what keeps us interested. Seeing beyond the physical will bring the connectedness we all crave. Your partner might not be strikingly beautiful but have a heart of gold. I also assert that the people we truly love grow more beautiful in our eyes.
Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously
give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.”