WQ - Tell Us About Beauty

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I'm participating in the Wednesday Quotes link-up hosted by Marsha at Always Write. In order to simplify her blogging schedule, Marsha has decided to choose themes for her posts as she goes, and has invited those of us who participate to simply include a quote in our post and choose our own themes as well. This week I'm combining with a theme chosen by another Marsha for the Tell Us About blogging series. Marsha in the Middle asked participating bloggers to Tell Us About . . . Beauty, and I knew I had some good quotes to help me do that!

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Over the past few years as I've celebrated each birthday, I've been reminded that thinking getting older is not for the weak. Even for people in much better shape than I'm in, as we get older, we tend to slow down a bit and have some aches that have no other explanation besides age. Aging is a process of change that none of us escape, although we may experience it very differently. 

The likelihood of needing glasses increases as we get older. So does the likelihood of experiencing some hearing loss. I honestly can't blame my weight gain on my age, but getting older sure has contributed to the difficulty of getting the weight off! Add in the arthritic knees that are just getting worse every year, and some mornings I feel positively ancient. (Getting a knee replaced has been life-changing and gave all my other joints a new lease on life as well!) My skin is changing, my bones are changing, and my hair is changing.

Some women have "youthful genes" and don't seem to develop crows-feet as early, and some women fight those signs of aging with skin products or procedures, and by coloring their hair. Some are careful to stay in good shape by exercising and eating right.

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ~Mark Twain

Your face is marked with lines of life, put there by love and laughter, suffering and tears. It's beautiful. ~Lynsay Sands

I decided quite about a decade ago that I wasn't going to color my hair any more. Going gray was a choice I made to stop fighting that particular process of aging, and a very small step towards what I thought would be healthier. The first several months were awkward and my hair looked pretty weird as the color was growing out and I discovered how much gray I actually had. But I'm so glad I did it! It's crazy to me how many compliments I've received on my silver hair - we don't call it gray around here!

Silver hair in 2022

Silver hair in 2023

The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,

if it is found in the way of righteousness.

~Proverbs 16:31~

In today's world, with the impossible standards of digitally enhanced models and focus on youthful beauty, the search for the elusive fountain of youth continues. It's not just young girls that are tempted to compare themselves to the imaginary perfect look, but older women can be discouraged or feel disrespected when they can't hide the signs of aging. No matter our age, we need to realize that our worth is not in what we look like but in who we are. There's a grace and elegance in people that are living joyful and meaningful lives because they know that they are loved and forgiven by God, and that their purpose is to glorify God.

Standards of physical beauty change as we age, change over time and generations, are different from one culture to another, and even from one person to another. The more intangible things that we associate with beauty tend to be more universal, I think. I don't think I'd ever call myself beautiful, but I'm trying to cultivate those beautiful character traits in my life.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

~Proverbs 31:30~

Confidence. Grace. Kindness. Humour. Gentleness. Compassion. Generosity. Humility. Wisdom. These are beautiful in any culture or language, and at any age. The ability to find joy and beauty and humour in each day makes someone beautiful, because we all know genuine smiles are more beautiful that grumpy expressions. Pursuing learning and wisdom, and seeing the goodness of God - this helps open our eyes to appreciate all the beautiful things of the world.

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing. ~Camille Pissarro

Things are beautiful if you love them. ~Jean Anouilh

Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures.

~Proverbs 24:3-4~

The beautiful thing about learning is that nobody can take it away from you. ~B.B. King

As for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

of your saving acts all day long -

though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign LORD;

I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty deeds to all who are to come.

~Psalm 71:14-18~

What is beautiful to you? Leave a comment and let me know!

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Wednesday Quotes 2024 is hosted by Marsha at Always Write. See what we're inspired by this week: WQ#174: Summer Evenings Inspire Gatherings 

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Tell Us About . . . is a monthly opportunity for bloggers to showcase their creativity. Each month one of the co-hosts will choose the word to focus on. On the third Thursday of every month we'll respond to the prompt "Tell Us About ---" which could be absolutely anything. And how we respond is also wide open. It could be a blog post with our opinions or reminscences; a poem, photos, a short story or whatever takes your fancy―it could even be a mix of all these! This month's theme is "Beauty" and our hostess is Marsha from Marsha in the Middle.

This post is linked at Women Living Well After Fifty.

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This article is drawn in part from my previous posts: Facing the Facts (The Elegance of Aging) at Homeschool Coffee Break, and Wednesday Hodgepodge - Thoughts on Beautiful Things here at A Fresh Cup of Coffee.

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