Redefining Beauty: Looking Beyond Looks
I’m not a fan of comments based on looks.
In my opinion we should redefine beauty by diving deeper & seeing people for who they truly are, rather than judging them based on size, shape or appearance.
So, here's a little story from a day at the racetrack with my husband.
We arrived just before noon.
My husband pointed to the counter and suggested I grab a program while he visited the men’s room.
I had never been to the track before so I went over and picked up a program.
As I started to turn away an older gentleman from behind the glass told me, “The programs are $3.75.”
I was taken aback, wondering, “If everyone needs the program to determine their bet why wouldn’t they just give them out?”
That felt weird.
He must have sensed my confusion. He asked, “You didn’t know you had to pay for it did you?”
Sheepishly, I admitted I thought they’d be free.
After handing me my change he casually added, “The first race starts at 12:30.”
Once again, I was surprised. “Oh? 12:30?” I responded, “I could have swore when I called yesterday they said the first race was at 12:00.”
He chuckled and said, “We don’t allow any swearing here.”
I couldn’t help but laugh and & apologized for my mix-up on the swearing.
Laughing along with me he added, “No, need to apologize. By the way we offer confessions upstairs between 1:30-3:00.”
I found his humor entertaining so I responded with a grin and asked, “Do I have to pay for that too?”
With a shake of his head, he reassured me, “Oh no. confessions are free.”
As I turned to walk away, he playfully remarked, “But you will have to pay a penance.”
We both laughed.
Just as I started to leave he added something that caught me off guard. He said, “Keep smiling, you’re a very pretty woman.”
I was a bit bummed by the comment, but I thanked him and continued on my way.
Our friendly back-and-forth banter was enjoyable, but the remark about my looks left me feeling a bit conflicted.
Later after some over-analyzing, (which my brain tends to do) it occurred to me, he may not have been commenting about my appearance at all.
Perhaps he meant something entirely different.
If I had hollered & pounded the counter frustrated at having to pay for a program, I doubt he would have found that pretty.
In the end, I believe what he actually meant was this:
“You're pretty funny.”
“You're pretty friendly.”
Those are compliments I will take any day.
Next time your giving or receiving compliments remember to look beyond appearances and find the true of beauty that radiates from within and not what you see on the surface.
When I wrote my book I created design as a message to love & accept people regardless of appearance.
→ See the Beauty in the Soul ←
Visit the link above and check out different ways you can display the image and help remind yourself & others that beauty is generated in the soul.