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Measuring Up
In the end we’re rarely beautiful, mostly placed away from compromising situations into poses off setting what has become of us in some gawker’s unnerving eyes.
By Allison Adelle Hedge Coke
I am beautiful. I am beautiful. I am beautiful. If I say it 100 or a 1000 times I will believe it. There is a connection between finding beauty and feeling beautiful. Beauty is about imperfection when imperfection has been forgotten. Beauty is about shape when shape has been forgiven. I need a definition of beauty that includes all the things.
Beauty is simply knowing who we are. That is why flowers are beautiful. They know who they are. That is why sunsets are beautiful. They know who they are. That is why home cooked meals are beautiful. They know who they are. Books are beautiful. Silk is beautiful. Gifts are beautiful.
There is no compromise in beauty. Just as there is no compromise in breath. I am not sure what it means to measure up beauty-wise. Who gets to say and how do they say it and when do they say it? By paying attention — really listening and seeing — measuring up sounds like noise on a desert radio that plays songs of comparison and judgement. I want to sing songs of compassion and love. We can decide, Beautiful.
About Katie
Born in Louisville. Live in Atlanta. Curious by nature. Researcher by education. Writer by practice. Grateful heart by desire.
Buy the Book!
The Stage Is On Fire, a memoir about hope and change, reasons for voyaging, and dreams burning down can be purchased on Amazon.