Nurture Your Inner Beauty as a Path to Aging Well
When was the last time you recognized the beauty within you?
Outer beauty is partially under our control and largely influenced by societal definitions. This morning, I read an article about AI-generated images of beauty. These images predominantly featured thin, young, light-skinned individuals, reflecting societal standards. Society often equates beauty with youth, thinness, and light skin, leaving many feeling marginalized.
Those of you reading this are likely in midlife or beyond. You may not be as thin as you were in your youth, and the majority of my readers are Caucasian. Does having one out of the three attributes defined by AI make you one-third beautiful? If you are an older woman of color, does that mean you are no longer beautiful, or were you ever considered beautiful by societal standards? These definitions of outer beauty have long shamed women.
In the span of a lifetime, it is your inner beauty that has the greatest impact on those around you.
Audrey Hepburn, when asked about her beauty secrets in her later years, said, “For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry… People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Never throw out anybody… True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows.”
“For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.”
This seems doable until we consider those we disagree with or fear—people who dress differently, practice another religion, or proclaim not to believe in God. Lack of understanding and fear create barriers to seeing the good. Recall our teenage years when adults disliked our long hair, ideas about “free love,” music, and protests. Some leaders saw no good in us.
What if, just for today, we sought to see the good in the people we meet, pass on the street, or read about in our newsfeed? We may find we feel better about ourselves when we see the good rather than harboring fear or judgment. It helps overcome the negative bias our brains often default to. Remember, almost everyone desires to feel safe, loved, and free from hunger. At least that much we all have in common.
“For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.”
I have a friend who carries protein bars in her car to share with people pan-handling on street corners. Another friend offered to buy a meal for a homeless man.
I generally look away. These acts of kindness are not really about maintaining a slim figure but about sharing humanity. Noticing another person and offering compassion are ways to share the “food” of attention. Volunteering at a food kitchen or buying extra food at the farmer’s market to share, are other ways to help. How might you share food with the hungry?
“Never throw out anybody.”
I’ve lost touch with friends due to moves, job changes, and sometimes because the friendships became toxic. Those losses still make me sad. As I age, maintaining contact with distant friends and relatives has become more important. It takes effort, and sometimes I feel like I’m the only one reaching out. But it matters to me, and I will continue. While it may not be possible to hold on to everyone, recognizing the importance of family and friendships and extending love to them is crucial.
Audrey Hepburn beautifully expressed how to be in touch with our inner beauty. Qualities like kindness, empathy, forgiveness, humility, integrity, and authenticity are all part of this inner beauty. These traits are what truly make us beautiful.
Let your life reflect the beauty in you.
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Originally Published on HeyBoomer.biz
