Beauty...

Last week, I was watching a repeat of a Miss Universe program. The beautiful contestants gathered from across the world had chiseled bodies and perfect faces. Across many rounds, they showed their beauty, charm, talent and intelligence. But for some reason their beauty did not reach out to me.

I realized over the years my definition of beauty had changed. I tried to look back at who in the recent past I had found beautiful.

An old Professor I met some years back.  She reflected strength, peace, knowledge. There was a certain serenity on her face which comes from years of experience and having weathered multiple personal and professional storms. Most importantly, even at this age she had a childlike desire and enthusiasm to do new things. She left me inspired.

Recently, I also encountered beauty when I had taken my daughter to the doctors clinic. She was probably a second time mommy in her mid thirties- heavily pregnant– sitting there with her husband and daughter. Though not conventionally beautiful, her face glowed with a certain contentment which comes when you have a family to love and a companion to grow old with.

My aunt would often worry about marrying off her daughter who was rather plain looking. Many proposals later, she finally found a suitable husband for her daughter and married her off. I was unable to attend her wedding – but met the young couple a few months later at another wedding. The young woman had actually transformed and looked quite attractive. I couldn’t help noticing the young couple were in a world of their own throughout the wedding. Was it love that had transformed the plain looking young girl into an attractive and confident young lady?

My definition of beauty had certainly undergone a lot of change. Beauty is what comes from within and touches your heart...