Beauty

I suspect that each one of us believes that we are great judges of beauty.  We all have our own individual attitudes and requirements for what we believe to be beautiful. When beauty is nonthreatening we can honestly enjoy and savor its importance to us.  A bright, vivid sunset is recognized by nearly everyone, and few will ever resent or envy it.  A rose, a rainbow, a lily, even branches of a tree, mountaintops, desert sands, all these are enjoyed with a great deal of pleasure and appreciation.  A dog, a horse, a rabbit, a cat, an animal of any kind can be truly valued for its natural beauty. In fact, that is what I loved so much in Alexander is his exceptional beauty. He had the most glorious eyes, the richest fur, silky and satiny, smooth as silk, luxurious especially in his tale.  He had the most delicate profile, the cutest little boxer type nose, the prettiest sweetest smile which often  played on his delicate face. I loved his beauty alone as well as his great disposition.

Beauty is a joy forever.  It makes one have a happy heart. 

But in a man or woman, if over glamorized, over done, to the point of what appears conceit and vanity, beauty becomes a form of poison, a detriment to others who envy it, and a curse to the one who bears it when it is not done naturally and unselfconsciously. Beautiful women are a joy to see, to stare at, the ponder, and wonder, just as handsome and beautiful men give women and probably other men pleasure too when the bearer of that particular beauty is seemingly natural and confident without seeming to love only himself and his physical appearance.

Both fundamentalist Christians and Muslims stress the improtance of humility, the Muslims to the point of absurdity when it means covering their bodies and faces, hair and other natural physical attributes so that false humility becomes a part of their lifestyle.  However, models and actresses exaggerate and over emphasize the need for so called perfection in physical appearance to the point to where no model or actress can show a wrinkle, a blemish, a sign of physical deterioration at all, and that is when beauty is at its worst, the most poisonous form so that obsession with self appearance becomes annoying and irritating rather than enjoyable, relaxed, and natural.

Because of my cat's natural beauty, I came to understand why it is right to value and appreciate true beauty when perfected to the point of outstanding or extraordinary.  I just loved to look at him, to see him wrap his gorgeous tail around his body, and stand, preening like the little king that he was.  He was just too gorgeous for words. I love him so much in memories now but he was frankly one of the  most beautiful specimens of cats in the world.

I thanked Sandra for giving him to me, to give me that kind of happiness for even a short time.  I am so grateful that I took him in when she offered him. I have loved him more than anyone will ever know as he loved me just as much and just as sincerely.  It is beauty that graces the heart.  To be beautiful from within is the right truest form of beauty for it is in loving that beauty is fully expressed.