Maybe I should say clearly, after my last post’s mention of whitened teeth and plucked eyebrows, that I think many ladies who do these things are beautiful–dazzling and striking, actually. It’s just that it’s not me, so I’m not going to do it.

I do think, now and then, how nice it would be if grey hair would not be taboo in this world. And how free young women could be if they wouldn’t feel pressured to fit into size 6 or 8 clothes. I’m not advocating a lifestyle of eating carelessly and not exercising and being conscious of weight/health issues. But what is beauty?

I’m happy with the 4 grey hairs that usually hide under my dark brown hair. I like salt and pepper hair. (Maybe mine will be coffee and cream hair.) I cannot relate to the panic that women feel about their greying hair. But I do understand some of the neurosis about skin, weight, those beauty issues. But is that what beauty is? I don’t know everything about it, but I don’t think that’s what it’s about.

I think part of beauty is about being at rest and being graceful in the frame given to us–while respecting and acknowledging that this frame is a gift and on loan. Maybe beauty is being conscious of and valuing both the heart and the frame we have. So why did I just eat that piece of chocolate? Well, I was hungry…