On beauty

Aesthetics, looks, beauty have always been important to me.  Of course true beauty goes much beyond that, but it's wonderful and inspiring to have beautiful things to look at.  Be they objects, scenery, art, or people, it's lovely to see something that really pleases the eye.  I've loved looking at all things beautiful ever since I can remember.  I'm sure we all like things that look good, but as I've become older, I've really realised how important aesthetics are to me.  Fashion, beauty, interior design, art, photography all mean so much to me, and bring a lot of joy to my life.  Can we really call something that brings so much joy and does no harm superficial?  I am talking just outer beauty here.

I'm not going to get into a huge philosophical conversation regarding beauty, because I simply don't know enough about it.  What I do know is that beauty is subjective, and different to all of us.  That's what makes it so wonderful and interesting!  When perceiving something, no one can have the same experience as you. While there are so many other much more important things in life, beauty surprises, delights, pleases, and in my opinion vastly improves quality of life.

Isn't it interesting though how you can look of photos of someone, and then meet them in person, and realise how you find their looks changing?  Someone very attractive can suddenly seem incredibly plain, while someone regular can suddenly become irresistible.  All through the power of personality, charm, charisma, and mannerisms.  We can all influence how beautiful we're perceived, and can bring so much joy and happiness to others' lives.

Some advice on getting advice!

Don't listen to other people too much!  It's great to get other opinions, and learn, but the most important person to listen to is yourself.  You need to be happy, and live with your decisions.  Don't let anyone talk you into anything, and don't go out of your way to put yourself in uncomfortable situations.

Now if this post isn't a contradiction in itself, I don't know what is!

I'm back by the way! :)

x

"Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans..."

This is one of my favourite quotes, from John Lennon's song Beautiful Boy.  I love this quote because I'm a dreamer, and can get really caught up in planning and dreaming away all my time, rather than actually getting out there and living.  Or more accurately, I go through stages, and right now I'm in the dreamer stage.  I need to be reminded that life's about living it every now and again.

One of my very favourite things to plan is trips abroad.  My wonderful fiance and I have booked a weekend in Tallinn in a few weeks time, staying at an absolutely gorgeous hotel.  Even more exciting is the fact that for the 30th birthday, which is sadly coming up in just three months, my fiance has promised to take me somewhere really special... To the land of plenty, the city which never sleeps, the ultimate destination for all things glitz, glamour, sleaze and tack, the only city whose sparkling mainstreet is visible from space.  It's Vegas, baby!  Planning this trip is definitely half the fun.

x

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels...

Today's media has been writing about Kate Moss supposedly commenting that one of her mottos is "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels..."  There's been loads of discussion around whether or not she's promoting unhealthy eating habits et cetera, once again.  As a model, it's almost part of her job to stay thin.  Her image has been built on her waif-like grungy appearance of the 90ies, one she's managed so well, and she still remains at the top of so many "most fashionable" lists, 15 years after first being discovered.  One beautiful sunny June afternoon, when I lived in Paris, I ran into Kate on the streets of the 11th arrondissement.  Her hair was afro-like, she was wearing a tiny red kilt and real fox around her neck, and her skin was so luminous it looked surreal.  On her arm, a hairdresser/stylist/make-up artist gayer than Christmas.  She looked amazing, like she belonged to totally different planet than us mere mortals.

I'm currently reading Sofi Oksanen's book "Stalin's Cows", which deals with both anorexia and bulimia.  Today, scrolling through blogs, I also came across some pretty disturbing blogs written by women, devoted entirely to anorexia and bulimia.  Pages and pages of food lists, calorie counting, pictures of stick-thin models and Amy Winehouse, and extremely disturbing photos of super skinny girls on scales.  Blogs obsessed with weight with lots of followers, all egging each other on, talking about how they want to get rid of their breasts. What is it that makes people get so obsessed about weight and food, and deny their femininity?
As I get closer to 30 years of age, I'm starting to notice that for the first time ever, I have to pay attention to what I eat.  I need to exercise and move more, to maintain my slim figure.  I'm starting to understand for the first time what it's like to worry about and monitor weight.  But, I'm also what the french call a "gourmand", someone who loves food and wine.  I love nothing more than going out to a fabulous restaurant for an amazing meal, with my equally gourmand other half.  Looks like I won't be saying "nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" anytime soon...

x