Beauty.
Is it in the eye of the beholder?
After all, what we like is subjective. We’ve got those complicated noggins storing a lifetime of experiences, passions and beliefs, all of which color what we find beautiful.
My head shot
Of course, shiny things distract and sparkly things can be fun(ny) . . .
That’s a lot of hair for one noggin to hold.
And beauty can get tangled up with things like botox, Spanx or Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues (pun intended).
It really is more about what we find at the core of one another.
“Beautiful people do not just happen,” said Elizabeth Kubler Ross. “These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness and a deep loving concern.”
It’s true. When you experience someone’s true character–compassion, kindness, smarts, empathy, humor, genuineness, love, etc, it’s like their soul is glowing right through their skin.
And that’s beautiful.
How do you define beauty?
Beauty of a Woman Blogfest by August McLaughlin
Be sure to visit August’s blog on Friday, February 10th, to read inspiring stories and for chances to win awesome prizes, including a Kindle Touch or $99 Amazon gift card, body image coaching, BOAW mugs and more.
Coleen Patrick 
Lovely post, Coleen. You summed up beautiful beautifully 🙂
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Love the head shot, Col! What a beautiful brain 😉
I agree that someone can become beautiful when you see their true character. Conversely, an outwardly beautiful person can look downright ugly when behaving badly (Just check out any reality show and you can see it in action LOL)
Cool post!!
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Thanks Catherine!
Emily–you are so right! When i was writing the post I thought–ugly shines through too.
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Loved your head shot also! Your blog today reminds me of a airplane crash survivor, who said while walking thru the plane to safety, he noticed that the bodies of those who didn’t survive all had an “Aura” . Some “auras were brighter than others. He resolved at that moment, when it was time for his so called death, he wanted his “aura” to be the brightest it could be. Coleen, love your writing style, your aura shows thru. It must be bright as all get-out!!
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I love that quote! It’s so true. It really is a person’s zest for life, to use a cheesy phrase, that makes them so beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
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I remember “big hair!” I think my neck was really strong back then.
Great post!
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Eye of the beholder is so true. Look at it even in terms of who we find attractive as potential mates. I’ve also noticed that once I’ve known a person for awhile, I can’t tell you objectively anymore whether they’re good looking or not. My opinion of them has so colored how I look at them that I honestly don’t know anymore.
Love the brain shot too 🙂
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Gorgeous post Coleen – just like its author! 🙂 In so few words you’ve said so much.
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So true. It’s like how someone who might not be considered classically beautiful can still be beautiful to you because of the kind of person they are.
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I completely agree that true beauty comes from within. Let your light shine through ladies. Coleen, love the big hair, so wish it would come back in style. 🙂
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I think we’re on the same page with our ideas of beauty! By the way, I used to be a Glamour Shots photographer…your photo just took me back to all that makeup and hairspray…lol
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“Beautiful’ post, Coleen! And what I love most about the Glam shot of you is the cocky intelligence that comes peeking through the skin.
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I LOVE glitter eyeliner! At (almost) 47 I thought maybe I was too old for it, but then I decided it made me really happy to wear glitter eyeliner and if someone had a problem with it, then that was their problem. I’m so glad I’ve finally realized that what matters most is inside of me and not what other people think of me. Took a long time to get here, but I’m glad I finally arrived. Lovely post, Coleen. Your brain is gorgeous, by the way. Very sexy. 😉
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I love the Elizabeth Kubler Ross quote, Coleen. Thanks for sharing!
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Lovely post Coleen! And I’m loving all the comments. That’s great that you got a picture of your brain! 😀 Yay for shiny auras! You know, I took a picture of my sister the last time I saw her. It was one month to the day of her death. When the picture was developed (before digital) there was a white aura all around her in the picture. How wild is that? So, definitely yay.
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Wow, that’s so awesome about the aura around your sister’s picture!
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Wonderful post! And I also LOVE the head shot:)
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Such a lovely post Coleen. The message was most meaningful. I have tried signing up for your blog for weeks — but then couldn’t get to it. I finally pulled into my google account this afternoon. I don’t know why I had so much trouble — the diferences between goolge and WP. No you’re in my read bx and I can follow.
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You have such a knack for pairing words and pictures to convey important messages, Coleen. I love this post—so uniquely you. The glam photo and headshot are priceless! 🙂
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Great Post!
Wow, love the shot of ‘you’! I seem to be following August around this blogfest and want to say what she’s saying!
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Coleen, I couldn’t agree more. Every time someone asks what famous guy I find hot, I have a hard time choosing a person. I don’t know them. If I don’t know them, how can I be attracted to them? I can appreciate that they look good, but it’s too superficial to swoon. That’s why some YA seems inauthentic–they’re in love before they even know one another at all.
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Very lovely post, Coleen. I define beauty the same way you do. It’s what’s inside that counts. Unfortunately most people don’t want to take the time to get to know that part of a person. If the perfection isn’t there on the outside, the inside doesn’t matter at all.
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Some of the most beautiful people I know are those who’d be considered the least so by the media and Hollywood. It’s all in what we do, not what we look like, and you summed it up brilliantly here! Also, big hair – yay!
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great post Coleen. as always, you’ve said so much in so few words. I have recently stopped wearing makeup to work every day. it was a huge change for me – I never went to work without war paint. but life intervened and I stopped. and now it’s a choice – wear it or not depending on my time and mood. that’s freedome for me.
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There is physical beauty, and then there is a spiritual kind of beauty that magnifies (or transcends) the physical. The former without the latter makes for very 2-D prettiness. Anyone with the latter kind of beauty always looks physically beautiful to me as well. 🙂
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I love the Elizabeth Kubler Ross quote, too and your wonderful line, “. . . it’s like their soul is glowing right through their skin.” That’s beauty!
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Beautiful post, Coleen!
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Lovely post, Coleen. The “headshot” is inspired!
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This is so, so refreshing to read.
And please, don’t get me started on the swimsuit issue … One of my speaking topics for moms is “Helping Your Son Choose Purity Versus Pornography.” I have strong feelings about the SI swimsuit issue.
But back to the topic at hand …
I loved the quote by Elizabeth Kubler Ross. Imagine that.
And I’ll definitely check out Friday’s blog post.
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Beautiful comments–thank you all for sharing!!!!
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Thought I had commented yesterday so I’m glad I came back for a reread! I really love the eye-picture. Very cool and the glam shot … it’s a keeper!! 🙂
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Great Post! I gave you the Kreative Blogger Award today! =)
You can check out the post here: http://bornbookish.blogspot.com/2012/02/randomness-awards-campaign.html
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Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder, or the careful observer. Beauty is all around us every day.
You ladies putting together this blogfest have offered some wonderful thoughts on our own perceptions of ourselves. If we’re quiet and we listen, we can see the beauty within. Embrace the beauty and let it shine forth!
I have similar headshot by the way. I had a full brain MRI several years ago. God, I’m gorgeous! (Tee hee).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this beautiful woman Friday! You are beautiful!
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
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Love this, Coleen: “When you experience someone’s true character–compassion, kindness, smarts, empathy, humor, genuineness, love, etc, it’s like their soul is glowing right through their skin.”
I’ve met a few people with that glow. They’re unforgettable–and very beautiful.
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what a creative post! love it! thanks for sharing. /liz
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This is such a cool post, Coleen. I love your definition of beauty. Have you ever met someone considered perfectly beautiful who has such a haughty personality that they actually appear ugly? It’s so true about inner beauty glowing from within!
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OMG, Colleen, we must have had the same hairdresser back in the day! Fantastic post.
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What a creative post! And so well put together! Just love the Kubler-Ross quote and of course that gorgeous headshot! 🙂
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Loved the post and the glam shot. I have a few of those. The only way my hair could have that kind of volume these days would be if it was covered by a wig!!!
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Such a perfect post! I love how you incorporated the pictures. I’m so happy to have found your blog 😉
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