Today I was inspired during my Rehabilitation and Human Services class, which is usually the class that bores me to tears. (I don’t have anything against the subject matter itself in this course, it just doesn’t align with most of my interests.)

However, today we spoke about beauty. (It sounds like such a vain topic to be interested in, I know. But read on) What is beauty? Why are we attracted to certain body types? What features attract the general population as a whole? Our professor lectured about the four elements of beauty (health, sexuality, symmetry, and physical fitness), and I thought about how these four things matter when we look at another human being on only a skin deep level.

You see, I learned in my communications class last semester that people who are commonly viewed as attractive will have a greater chance at scoring a job after an interview, and that they have a far greater chance of being well received by their peers. It makes sense I suppose. More often than not, entrepreneurs and managers want their businesses to look clean cut, professional, and appealing. From a business perspective, why would we hire the less attractive people when we want to make our business the most appealing that it can be? Outwardly attractive features are beneficial in many ways but I don’t think that we should make them our number one priority. We shouldn’t be so influenced by self image and media image that our sole purpose is to be “pretty”. This idea got me thinking. At this point I became involved in the class conversation. I asked my professor:

“Do you think it’s really society that plays such a large role in what we perceive as ‘beautiful’, or do you think that it’s human nature to desire the more polished and pleasant looking things? When any of us go to the grocery store, we surely do not pick the moldy fruits and vegetables- but rather the ones that are the most ripe and colorful. We don’t pick the package of meat with the most fat or slime on it, instead we pick the freshest, leanest cuts.”

She mulled it over for a moment before responding. She believes that it’s a combination of human nature AND society. She went on to say that she thinks social media, and magazines place certain types of beauty on a pedestal. (Long eyelashes, a trim figure, beautiful hair, etc.) I can’t say I disagree with her.

I believe that human nature is instinctively driven towards the most eye catching, beautiful things.

And the media? The media is what tells us that beauty is the most important thing.And we shouldn’t let each other feed into that trashy bit of advice.

Media shows us the “latest trends” and the “hottest styles”, and SO many people give into these ridiculous trends. Jesus, or Michelle Obama, or the Queen of England could tell me that the more winged your eyeliner is, the better it looks. But it all boils down to what I think, and if you have eyeliner drawn to your fucking ears, you can bet that I’m not going to take Michelle Obama’s advice on that one.

But on a more serious note…

Look at Victoria’s Secret models. (Although I wouldn’t want to have to walk down a runway in six inch heels like they do, I will always want a pair of wings ) There are tons of girls who want to look JUST like them, and they privately scorn themselves for every hour of each day that passes that they don’t look like them. Yes, Candice Swanepoel is drop dead gorgeous, but no, you don’t have to look like her.

Why do we allow ourselves to be fed so much bullshit, and not only be fed it, but to put this soggy bullshit brain food on a pedestal in our lives? We trophy case beauty and trends like they are the only things that really matter, and they aren’t. We are more willing to spend hours watching makeup tutorials or celebrity gossip shows than we are to do volunteer work, or study for an exam, or facetime our siblings. Why do we strive to be like drug addicted movie stars, or grossly thin models, more than we do to be like influential people? It’s wrong. We are becoming ignorant to the things that matter, in our pursuits of attaining worldly beauty.

Girls are growing up thinking that their boobs and asses are their greatest assets.

Guys are growing up thinking that they need a beard and muscles, and a talent for hiding their emotions in order to be well received by a feminine crowd.

It’s not a bad thing to want to be attractive, or to be attracted to certain things. I love looking at a chiseled man as much as the next 600 women you ask. The difference, is that I’m not going to listen to someone telling me to like a man with a certain sense of style, or a certain brand of beard oil. I’m not going to listen to someone telling me I’d look better with bigger boobs, or without my tattoos. (Excuse me small boobs are great because I can go without a bra all day and guess who notices? No one.) I’m not going to spend every single day of my life wishing I looked a different way, because someday when I’m cremated and my ashes are scattered, it won’t matter.

Focus on having a beautiful inside, a soul that lights up the room and penetrates those around it. Make people feel warm and welcome, and always lend a helping hand. Practice not judging others based on their looks, and practice loving the way that YOU look, and always being the best that you can be. Take care of your body, be grateful for good health while it lasts, and don’t ever try being anybody else.

Stop putting outward beauty on a pedestal.

When your time on this Earth comes to a close, it won’t be how appealing to the eye you were, that stands out.

It will be how you lived that speaks volumes.