The Eye of the Beholder

"If there is light in the soul, there will be beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there will be harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there will be order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world." ~Chinese Proverb

"Pretty is as pretty does." Aunt Mattie used to say this all the time and I wholeheartedly agree. I have a tradition on my Writer's Facebook page where every Wednesday, i.e. Hump Day,  I post a picture of hunky guys (...usually in kilts, because RAWR) and sometimes lovely ladies (...just to be fair), but the truth is I have never been attracted to someone based on their looks. While I certainly appreciate an aesthetically appealing human being (...which is something purely, utterly subjective), who might briefly cause me to turn my head and look at them, what I find truly, bone-deep attractive cannot be seen on a person's face or body.

I am attracted to a person's kindness and genuine sense of humor (a distinction that must be made because it separates humor that is crass or belittling from humor that is not). I will look for how a person treats children, animals, old people, wait staff, and strangers. I am attracted to honesty that's not cruel, and loyalty, especially in a crisis. I am attracted to souls whose brokenness has taught them humility and how to be gentle with others (...as well as WHY it's so important). I am attracted to those who keep their promises, mean what they say when they speak, and handle with care even those people who don't deserve it. I also believe these standards by which I measure others should START with the way I measure myself. The essence of beauty does not show itself just by looking at another's outward appearance, but comes from the way being around that person makes you feel. That is the only way to know if you're standing in the presence of a truly exquisite soul.