Beauty is such a fickle attribute, isn’t it?  Oddly enough, the pursuit of beauty is a constant in most women’s lives, yet is there even such a thing as an absolute beauty?  There are billions of beholders out there with different views on what is beautiful waiting to judge you; some like brunette, some like blonde, some like curvy, some like tall, some like nothing at all.  We spend so much time trying to mold into the “look” that those closest to us covet.  It’s a never-ending and gregarious process which is never fully satisfied, because the bottom line is that there is always going to be someone more beautiful around the corner, depending on what shortcomings we believe that we have.  I live in Miami now, but having been raised mostly in a small beach town, I notice huge contrasts between the locations on what is considered attractive.

For instance, I have never been a fan of push-up bras of any kind, killer (literally) heels, or dressing overly sexy. If you have been to Miami, clearly this is in direct contrast to how many women prefer to strut.  I understand that a push-up bra is not the most offensive thing in the world, but I just don’t like the way that they look under my clothes.  On the flip side, I strongly dislike jean skirts, tank tops, and I’ll say more simple fishing-worthy clothing, which also does not fit at all in the small town where I grew up.  In each place, I did spend more time than I would like to admit trying to mold myself to what others thought was a better look and it just wasn’t me.  In a sense, I don’t really live up to either place’s standard, but having been able to experience both, over time I have learned to embrace more of what style speaks to me personally because I figure somewhere in the world probably finds it to be ideal, if I do.

 Also, as far as the pursuit of beauty goes, hair must be addressed.  About two months ago, I made the executive decision to cut bangs and I have to say that it is the most confusing thing that I have even done.  I have realized that there is no real middle ground when it comes to bangs, so I have people who literally despise the blunt cut and others that are obsessed with it.  I frequently go back and forth, one day adoring them and they next blaming them for all of my misery in life.  And yet, cutting them has taught me a lot about making bold choices, beauty or otherwise; it is so true that you just can not please everyone.  As long as I am pleasing myself today, I suppose I am one step ahead of the beauty game; I have one in my corner.

The power of personality, intelligence and confidence in influencing beauty should never be underestimated or forgotten, even for a moment; these are game changers, folks.  Whenever I am having a day where I feel like an extra from “Dawn of the Dead,” I continuously remind myself that beauty is an illusion, but these factors that no one can even physically see are what really amount to who I am.

To the pursuit of more than beauty,

TLV