As a culture, we are obsessed with perfection, especially when it comes to our perception of beauty.
Women in American spend small fortunes on what I call ‘spackling’…botox, microdermabrasion, retinol, fillers, creams. Not to mention face lifts, tummy tucks, boob jobs, butt injections. The list is endless. And it seems pointless because nobody is satisfied…all in the pursuit of perfection.
As I age, I find it a challenge to do so gracefully! I am not against plastic surgery on principle. I am going to do anything to avoid pain even if the duration is short! I am very uncomfortable with putting all sorts of chemicals in my body, not knowing what that will bring in a year, or five or ten.
Primarily, I think it is a sickness in our culture that makes us chase such a transient goal. I remember in the 70s when pencil thin eyebrows were such a fashion statement. I see women now who created that look then and are stuck with it…not all eyebrows grow back! But it perhaps belies an emptiness inside, feeling that we are only as good as we look on the outside. I also think it may have become a subtle way in which women compete against each other. Maybe, it’s not so subtle.
At any rate, since I have them, I wish for a time when lines, flaws and imperfections are viewed as beautiful!
This is one of my favorite quotes: “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen