The older I get, the more I realize youth is beautiful. My teenage daughter's friends can be slouched in their pajamas bottoms, shoveling cereal in their mouths as they stare at the TV, and it's like dripping honey in my eyes. We don't necessarily see this when we ourselves are young; we're hypercritical of our own looks and everyone else's. I had this driven home recently on Facebook, when I saw a twenty-year-old photo of a grade school friend's brother, a kid I'd always thought was homely. But he wasn't; he was beautiful.
Then again, sometimes we do the opposite, becoming dazzled by what we assume is the downy cheek when really, it's the hard wrought beauty all around us. I guest blogged as much today, at lovely-at-any-age Foodinista's site, she of the impeccable taste, and will you look at those shoes?
Man oh man do I agree with you, try being a 30 something school teacher, and I'm not unattractive, but boy, 16 year old girls get more beautiful each year. Pro active and invisible braces manufacturers must be making a fortune.
Posted by: Jewels | April 19, 2009 at 09:59 PM
I agree to the extent you're talking "true" youth. When a woman tries too hard to recapture her youth--by spending too much time under the knife or the needle, for example--the effect is not beautiful. To me it looks desperate and only worsens as the years pass.
"Dripping honey" is a excellent description of many a high school kid.
Posted by: dgm | April 23, 2009 at 07:42 AM
Yes, whoever said youth is wasted on the young really hit the nail on the head. The older I get and the wiser and more generous and compassionate I become, the less energy I have to do anything about it! Or even if I do have the energy, I look tired anyway! But I do appreciate what I have--every line, every wrinkle. I wouldn't want it any other way!
Posted by: Beauty For A Living | April 27, 2009 at 07:45 AM