beautiful:: part two.

 First of all, an ode to the dictionary:

 Because a.) This is coming from a girl who could sit in front of an already A-worthy essay for hours, clicking “thesaurus” on every other word  (which means yes, I’m well aware that under the definition of “nerdy” you’ll find a picture of me, falling asleep with a dictionary next to my bed) And b.) I am one of the thirteen people in our country who still does not own a smart phone, so internet searches are a rare privilege for me (Though my husband may protest to that statement… I admit I take advantage of his iphone now and then, but usually it’s just to look up health symptoms and further deepen my hypochondriac within).  So obviously, I deeply adore this enormous book of black and white adjectives- and yet, I admit that sometimes its definitions fall short of satisfactory.  This particular search, however, turned up a brilliant starting point for my personal hunt to define beauty. So, with no further ado, my first but not last standard of what it is to be beautiful:

Beautiful:: very pleasing to see or hear; delighting the mind or sense

Now, I don’t know about you, but when I see a Victoria’s Secret poster or witness the seemingly flawless figure of an NFL cheerleader, I am filled with a sense of personal failure and covetousness, more often than not.  Lust, not love, is invoked upon observance. These images are not pleasing or delighting in the deeper sense of the word.  No, but true beauty- the kind of beautiful I ultimately want to grow in- is found in the things and people who are full of contagious passion and curious peace, both confidence and contentment.  Barbie-figures may turn more heads, but real, honest beauty inspires.  That white-haired, wrinkle-laden couple holding hands as they walk through the bookstore; the sunset bleeding orange across the seashore; my aunt’s face walking into my dad’s hospital room to say “thank you” for his life-giving kidney… All sappiness aside- these visions are pleasing, delighting, inspiring. They are beautiful.