The Essence of Beauty

There is an old saying that goes something like this: "Beauty is skin deep, but ugliness goes all the way to the bone." That got me to thinking about the essence of beauty in our culture. In movies, commercials and in every day life sex appeal sells. Would they consider a woman like me to sell a product? Of course not! Why? Well, most assuredly it is because I am not slim and trim. My face is no longer firm and without line or blemish. We don't stay 17 years old forever! Yet more and more people are chasing their youth, because they want to hang on to their beauty. I take exception with this mindset because it is not accepting yourself the way you are. Who says you aren't beautiful just the way you are? True beauty comes from within.

How many women and men get plastic surgery done so that they can acquire beauty and sex appeal? For many years I examined myself in the mirror. I watched for signs of aging, and when it was confirmed-I am getting old-I had lines and the beginnings of wrinkles on my face, I started applying Oil of Olay to may face every night and every morning. I obsessed about those lines, and believed I was no longer attractive. I even tried some of that Retin-A cream that is supposed to make lines go away. I ended up burning my face something awful. Why was I putting myself though all this to obtain an image I could never have again? Why not accept myself as I am and be the best ME I can be?

I asked myself why women are portrayed as old and men are portrayed as distinguished looking when they have gray hair and lines. It seems to me that men are hardly ever portrayed in a negative light when they start to get older. It's almost laughable how a man can be sagging and bagging, yet women still find them sexually desirable. Yet, men pass us by and never give us a second look, when we are in similar shape to them. They are often looking for the plastic Barbie doll image. I can't compete with that. So what am I to do? Am I going to be destined to live my life alone for the rest of my life because I can't afford plastic surgery? I know I am not alone here on these thoughts, either. If you are reading this, you probably can relate to what I am saying to some degree.