How do you define BEAUTY? What does it take for someone to be BEAUTIFUL? Well, let’s look it up and see! According to Merriam-Webster online there are a few definitions of beauty. Here they are…
1. “The quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit.”
2. “A beautiful person or thing; especially: a beautiful woman”
3. “A particularly graceful, ornamental, or excellent quality”
4. “A brilliant, extreme, or egregious example or instance “that mistake was a beauty”
So, according to this popular source, beauty is quality in a thing or person that pleases one’s senses, mind or spirit (I quite like that part because it doesn’t just attribute beauty to a physical feature). Furthermore, it can be a woman… elegant or decorative… or a bright, thrilling occurrence. (Say, what?) Taking the definition literally, it can seem degrading; but, of course, once you think through it, it makes sense. Isn’t a painting or a vase decorative, but also beautiful? Personally, I don’t want to be just decorative…pretty to look at, but of no real use. No, thanks. As military wives we have to be useful, resourceful, crafty and independent. There is beauty in the military life and being a wife! As a military spouse, isn’t there beauty in seeing our military member step off that plane/ship after a deployment? That nervous excitement we all feel, seeing them for the first time in months. Whether they are dirty, tired, in camo or not — the fact that they are in your arms safe is beautiful in itself. Imagine the beauty they see after stepping off of that plane. No matter how short…tall…thick or thin…makeup on or not. You are the most gorgeous being in the world to him. You have supported, stood by, and loved your spouse through something so few will ever experience. Remember: making it through a deployment together and alive is a thing of beauty!
Do you think there is an equation to achieve beauty? Something like: the right clothes + perfect hair + flawless makeup + the right body+ impeccable nails = One Gorgeous, beautiful woman? Are we never to see ourselves as beautiful because we are lacking in some aspect of this equation? Have children…there goes the body. Wash dishes…there goes the nails. Don’t know how to apply makeup…there goes the perfect face. That’s what popular culture wants us to believe. Heck! They built the beauty industry on it! But, do you think that super models and actresses are flawless? They have scars, wear hair extensions, have makeup teams to overhaul them, and will starve themselves to achieve “the prefect body”. So few women truly think of themselves as gorgeous or beautiful. Pick something about yourself. Eyes, nose, ears, hair, etc. that you think is beautiful and play up that trait. You’ll soon notice that other parts of you are beautiful, too. Having flaws doesn’t make you lacking in beauty. It actually sets you apart and makes you unique. Take me, for example; I am 6 feet tall. It’s horrible finding pants that fit correctly and are long enough. Don’t get me started on skirts and shorts! My height intimidates women and men. I guess constantly looking up to someone is an uncomfortable feeling? Many people have said to me, “I would love to have your height!” Really, you don’t want these extra inches. I have had to wear high water pants my whole life and been teased for my height since middle school. Plus, wearing heels is very problematic. But, since I haven’t heard of a shrinking serum besides in Alice of Wonderland, I have to live with it and I try my hardest to find flattering clothing. Without looking like a giant daddy long leg spider wearing Polly Pocket clothing. I don’t like being this tall, but I have learned to embrace my awkwardness and play it up. Realistically, the perfect person doesn’t exist, so stop trying to achieve it. Settle into your body and accept that no matter what you look like, you are beautiful. Your husband, children, friends and family see it everyday!
Yes I am going to be blogging about beauty, how-tos and reviews, but remember: you are BEAUTIFUL inside and out, you just have to recognize it! <3 Jenn Taylor