Distinctive Beauty - Embracing Your Physical Individuality

Aphrodite —

February 11, 2005

The mirror can be a friend and the mirror can be a foe. Few people are willing to accept that their physical individuality is something amazing rather than something to be ashamed of. But like the individual beauty of a single flower placed in a bouquet, each of us, no matter what we look like, contributes to the beauty of humanity and enhances the world.

Though society often emphasizes physical conformity, regardless of what your height or weight may be, you have legs that carry you, arms that hug, lips with which to kiss, and eyes that express a range of emotions. Your body is your perfect home and the ultimate expression of your inner beauty, and is naturally and individual as your personality. You may see your body as a collection of flaws, but more often than not, it is the so-called flaw that provides the counterpoint that creates a vision of beauty. The old adage is true: If we all looked alike, then much of the appeal of the visual world would be lost. For a variety of reasons, mainstream culture asks us to view our physical selves negatively and with a strict eye toward improvement. But in confronting assumptions about our bodies as well as how those assumptions were shaped over time, it becomes possible to accept that true beauty is more than a shape, a size, a color, or a standard. It is when we stop comparing ourselves to others that we can recognize the true miracle which is the beauty of each and every human body as a whole, without reverting to any erroneous ideal.

The briefest glance through a crowd reveals a wondrous variety of real people. William Shakespeare wrote: “The boughs of no two trees ever have the same arrangement. Nature always produces individuals.” The physical presence of each person on earth fills a unique void and adds a complexity that would be lacking were we all copies spilled from a single mold. With this in mind, take another look in the mirror and make the effort to love what you see.

Forum

Dave — Fri, 23 Sep 2005 - 21:36

[quote="MuslimSister"]I'd love to go to a spa one day.

When I start earning my own money...I'm going to spend a lot of time in such places.[/quote]

My girlfriend is obsessed with them.

I stand by my earlier judgement. People walking around half naked being touched and rubbed by strangers.

They are the modern remains of Heracleum.

*DUST* — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 - 01:39

[quote="Constantine"][quote="MuslimSister"]I'd love to go to a spa one day.

When I start earning my own money...I'm going to spend a lot of time in such places.[/quote]

My girlfriend is obsessed with them.

I stand by my earlier judgement. People walking around half naked being touched and rubbed by strangers.

They are the modern remains of Heracleum.[/quote]
ewww!! :?

Dave — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 - 01:41

[quote="Aasiyah"][quote="Constantine"][quote="MuslimSister"]I'd love to go to a spa one day.

When I start earning my own money...I'm going to spend a lot of time in such places.[/quote]

My girlfriend is obsessed with them.

I stand by my earlier judgement. People walking around half naked being touched and rubbed by strangers.

They are the modern remains of Heracleum.[/quote]
ewww!! :?[/quote]

You're a sensible girl!

There is nothing good about spas.

They aren't even relaxing because most of the time you are worried about how indecent it is to be walking about in a towel.

Aphrodite — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 - 08:50

[quote="Constantine"][quote="Aasiyah"][quote="Constantine"][quote="MuslimSister"]I'd love to go to a spa one day.

When I start earning my own money...I'm going to spend a lot of time in such places.[/quote]

My girlfriend is obsessed with them.

I stand by my earlier judgement. People walking around half naked being touched and rubbed by strangers.

They are the modern remains of Heracleum.[/quote]
ewww!! :?[/quote]

You're a sensible girl!

There is nothing good about spas.

They aren't even relaxing because most of the time you are worried about how indecent it is to be walking about in a towel.[/quote]

They are quite unsavoury places. MuslimSis, if you want to get pampered, just go to a good womens-only salon - they do all the good facials and hair treatments and stuff - and you don't have to walk around with a bath-robe on.

Seraphim — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 - 09:47

lol... i dont think its actually necessary to walk around in a towel dave. Im not too comfortable having strange people in my personal space let alone let them touch me.

I will however admit that when i was on holiday i did get one of those head massages... absolutely fantastic. And it didnt involve me walking around in no towel, and it was done by a guy so i wasnt too worried about it... ofcourse it was done in a totally masculine way...

Aphrodite — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 - 10:05

I love Indian head massages... although, I tend to get it done within the family anyway - lots of women in our family. I apparently give really good facial massages as well.

Just realised, isn't it ironic that I started this thread to dissuade people from focusing so much on the physical beauty...

Seraphim — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 - 10:10

[quote="Aphrodite"]I love Indian head massages... although, I tend to get it done within the family anyway - lots of women in our family. I apparently give really good facial massages as well.

Just realised, isn't it ironic that I started this thread to dissuade people from focusing so much on the physical beauty...[/quote]

yeah but head massages dont count... they dont make you look any better than you started... heck your hairs a more of a mess than when you walking in there.

Aphrodite — Sat, 24 Sep 2005 - 10:20

[quote="Seraph"][quote="Aphrodite"]I love Indian head massages... although, I tend to get it done within the family anyway - lots of women in our family. I apparently give really good facial massages as well.

Just realised, isn't it ironic that I started this thread to dissuade people from focusing so much on the physical beauty...[/quote]

yeah but head massages dont count... they dont make you look any better than you started... heck your hairs a more of a mess than when you walking in there.[/quote]

Then you're going to the wrong places... because my salon fixes my hair up after 😂 And it does make you look better... everyone looks better when they're less stressed and calm. But again, that's the inner beauty thing 🙂

khadijah — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 - 13:15

Salaams,
I'm sorry but what a bunch of sad'o whats happening to you lot! I bet they dont have eating disorders, weight problems self image problems in Africa or poor parts of Asia its a western disease. Come snap out of it we will all end up in the same place anyhow. Yes, we should look after ourselves but dont become to VAIN.. and discontented.

100 — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 - 13:52

khadijah, thanks for the link to a really great charity that helps starving people.

Just kidding Judda! Sorry! I've got a mate a bit like you, we're very nasty to each other in the name of good fun. Over the years I've probably been nastier, I can outwit him and most people seem to have found me funny although maybe in their heads they were thinking, what a ****, so I apologised the last time I saw him (he lives in LA now), but he said he was never offended, always knew I'm just plain nasty like that. He still looks like jailbait.

100 — Mon, 26 Sep 2005 - 14:14

Yeah but angel, it was in the context of a light discussion. The complaint was not that Judda was OT, but that he was not busy helping the poor, which is a silly, personal gripe and not even remotely a call to help the poor with this or that project.