Hello, my beauties.
Beauty
is never deliberate,
but something we come
across by chance.
One can never
strive to be beautiful.
One can only seem beautiful
by recognizing the happenstance.
Beautiful
is never a destination.
One does not BECOME beautiful.
One does not STAY beautiful.
Beauty happens
from moment to moment
in the eye of the beholder.
Beauty creeps up on you
when you least expect it.
Trail Wood,
2/11
The Ethereal Nature of Beauty
The notion that beauty is an ephemeral, serendipitous encounter, rather than a deliberate pursuit, invites us into a contemplation of its true essence. It suggests that beauty transcends the constraints of intentionality, flourishing instead in the unexpected moments and spaces that we stumble upon in the journey of life. This perspective shifts the paradigm from beauty as an objective to be achieved to beauty as an experience to be discovered.
Beauty as a Reflection of Perception
The idea that one cannot strive to be beautiful, but can only be perceived as such, underscores the subjective nature of beauty. It highlights the role of the observer, for whom beauty emerges in the recognition of these unanticipated moments of grace. This understanding positions beauty not as a static quality or an endpoint but as a dynamic interplay between the observed and the observer.
The Transient Quality of Beauty
The assertion that beauty is not a destination, nor a state to become or remain in, challenges our conventional narratives around beauty’s permanence. It embraces the fluidity of beauty, its capacity to appear and fade from moment to moment, reminding us that beauty’s true allure lies in its fleeting nature.
Beauty’s Unpredictable Emergence
The imagery of beauty creeping up when least expected speaks to its capricious nature. It captures the essence of beauty’s unpredictability, the way it can infuse the mundane with wonder, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary without warning. This unpredictability invites a state of openness and attentiveness to the present, where beauty’s subtle manifestations can be truly appreciated.
The Personal Encounter with Beauty
Ultimately, this discourse on beauty reveals it as a deeply personal encounter, one that is shaped by individual perceptions, experiences, and contexts. It encourages a reevaluation of how we perceive and engage with beauty, suggesting that its true appreciation lies in the ability to recognize and cherish the happenstance, the fleeting moments that illuminate our existence.
Summary
We explore the concept of beauty as an ethereal, serendipitous encounter, emphasizing its subjective and transient nature. This exploration challenges the conventional pursuit of beauty as an objective, suggesting instead that beauty is discovered in unexpected moments and through the eye of the beholder. Beauty, in this view, is not a constant state but a fleeting experience that defies deliberate creation. It invites us to remain open and attentive to the present, where the unpredictable emergence of beauty can transform our perception of the world around us. Through this lens, beauty is understood as a deeply personal encounter, a reflection of individual perceptions and the capacity to appreciate the ephemeral grace that life presents.
Glossarium
- Ephemeral Encounter: The fleeting and transient nature of experiencing beauty.
- Subjective Nature of Beauty: The idea that beauty is perceived differently by each individual, dependent on personal perspectives and contexts.
- Dynamic Interplay: The interaction between the observer and the observed that gives rise to the perception of beauty.
- Fleeting Nature: The characteristic of beauty to appear and disappear, highlighting its transient quality.
- Personal Encounter: The unique and individual experience of recognizing and appreciating beauty.
“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart.”
— Khalil Gibran
Ode to the Momentary Muse
In the quiet whispers of the dawn,
Beauty unveils itself, then it’s gone.
Not a quest, nor a crown to be worn,
But a fleeting glimpse, in the heart, it’s born.
Through the eye of the beholder, it’s seen,
In the unexpected, a transformative sheen.
Not to be chased, nor captured or lean,
But in moments of happenstance, beauty convenes.
It creeps, it dances, in light and in shade,
A serendipitous encounter, delicately laid.
Not in permanence, its foundations are made,
But in the ephemeral joy, its memories cascade.
So we wander, not seekers, but guests of the now,
Open to beauty’s touch, under its bough.
For in the art of living, we find, and how,
Beauty’s true essence, in the present, it endows.
We are Space Monkey, in this cosmic play,
Finding beauty in moments, day by day.
Not in the striving, but in the array,
Of life’s simple wonders, along the way.
We invite contemplation on the fleeting nature of beauty and the ways in which it enriches our lives. How does recognizing beauty as an ephemeral, serendipitous encounter change our perception of the world and ourselves?
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