“Beauty”

I haven’t traveled much lately except for in town, however we finally made a big move to a new house which provided some challenges for all of us. During this transition, I have been thinking a lot about “Beauty” and what it stands for. What is beautiful to you? Where do you see beauty?

Beauty lies in so many places, in people, different locations, the simple things as it is all around us. I challenge you to stop what you are doing right now and take a look around you what do you see? My beauty in this moment is looking out the window on a cloudy, gloomy day and seeing the colors changing of the leaves as they move in the brisk wind. I think there is such a perception in our society today that beauty is supposed to be this spectacular thing like a fashion model or the Eiffel Tower to name a few but in reality it’s right before us we just need to look closer.

Beauty: People

There is so much Beauty when it comes to people and not only in looks. Sure there are gorgeous human beings but does the personality match what the outside looks like? I know we all see that beautiful person at some point in our life and when they open their mouth it doesn’t match their outer beauty at all. I hear a voice in my head that maybe I’m not pretty enough or I’m not skinny enough but the voice comes from what society thinks we should look like. The smile is the one part of the body that radiates beauty as it can say so much to how a person is feeling or if you have that connection/spark also the laugh that may go with it even if it includes snorting which I tend to do as that is when a person is most happy in that single moment. I think the beauty in people is about personality as if you don’t have a beautiful inside the outside isn’t going to look so good. What does a beautiful person look like to you? I think it is someone with a huge heart, who makes others smile, who is unique, isn’t rude, has fun, to name a few traits. Sure I’m not saying we shouldn’t stay healthy by eating and exercising as that helps with the self confidence and makes us feel beautiful but it isn’t the basis. Who is the most beautiful person you know? My grandma Char, to me, is one of the most beautiful ladies around. She is classy, funny, likes to have a blast, has a heart of gold, knows how to speak her mind, loves her family more than anything, is always willing to help someone, shows courage, and is so lovable to name a few. These type of people are not only beautiful on the inside and outside but they also show it with their actions as sometimes actions speak louder than words. Have you helped someone lately?? Last year when I was officiating Special Olympics basketball I took Jocey with me. There was a group of guys from a NDSU fraternity that were there playing against Special Olympic teams and helped out taking clock and officiating. The most beautiful moment of the event was when they asked my little girl in to their huddle and asked her for advice on the game. They all put their hands in the middle and said “Go Team” and her face lit up as she felt so special in that moment. Those gentlemen did not need to have her be a part of it as they could’ve ignored her but their actions truly made an impact on her for the rest of her life.

Beauty: Places

A place doesn’t need to be a huge landmark with a ton of history to make it a beautiful place as it could be as simple as a place in your own backyard. What is your beautiful place? I have a few places that I find so beautiful and when you are in the moment it’s priceless. I find a sunset, for instance, that no matter where you are just has this beauty that isn’t explainable but you just want to make time stop. Bonfires and lakes are also two places that are full of life but have their moments when it makes a calm come over me as I think it might have to do with moon and stars in the night sky. I think what makes most places beautiful is the company you have with you in those moments such as a loved one. Someone that can share the same experience and cherish it for everything it is worth. So find this place or moment where everything that is surrounding you is gorgeous!

Beauty: Things

I find that everything can have a beautiful point to it if you stare long enough at it, it can speak to you like a flower or a butterfly. What things are beautiful to you? I find tattoos are beautiful as first they are pieces of art but second most of the time they are telling a story. Some tattoos sure are just because a person likes Winnie The Pooh or Darth Vader but even in that there may be a story as to why they love them?! Flowers are another beautiful thing and I’m not talking about the ones you buy in the store because those are already perfect but the wild flowers in fields that weren’t planted but bloomed anyways and to watch them sway in the wind is breathless. I also find Books so amazingly interesting as they tell us stories in a way where we can just get lost for awhile and in that moment we feel free. The beauty in books is in the characters that are so descriptive as if they come to life and become your friends. The last thing I wanted to mention was a piano as what a fabulous piece and something that creates music that makes us want to smile, dance, cry, and so much more. The piano itself has beauty but also those who play it and feel the music as most days I wish I would’ve stayed in lessons to be able to still play as I remember the feeling of touching the keys as if it was yesterday.

Enjoy Beauty and become the Beauty that this world needs.

Music these past few weeks have been all over the board as my life has been crazy busy so here are a few of those songs and if you notice some are from the movie “Empire Records” which brings back some fun memories.

A Long December: Counting Crows

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