FEATURED IMAGE DESCRIPTION: A close up photograph of a tree that has white mushrooms growing on it.
BY: FRANCE THERIAULT
I have loved beauty for as long as I can remember. But, I have also wondered, why beauty is so important to my life?
Also, what does it feel like when my heart is touched by beauty?
I respond positively to vibrant colours. I love to feel textures as I engage my tactile senses and make new discoveries. Creative and unique objects steal my heart over high-end items.
As soon as my eyes catch beauty amongst a selection of visual stimuli, my whole body relaxes. I am overjoyed that I have had the privilege to witness it. I feel alive, joyous, vibrant and grateful when I discover paintings and sculptures that shine in my whole being. Aesthetically pleasing elements and refined details deliver me to simplicity and perfect harmony.
Beauty comforts my soul. It connects me to my senses, and it unites my whole being. Beauty is a necessity in my life, like air in my lungs.
After my brain injury, beauty became an ardent forceful attraction. I became a beauty seeker, an avid epicurean of beauty.
When traveling, I love to notice a building’s architectural distinction. The shapes, curves and the details carved in the old stone are pleasing to look at. They represent a time period that no longer exists, giving me an essence of the era in which they were created.
My love affair with beauty is one of the reasons why I love people and human connection. I am sensitive to their inner beauty. A benevolent smile touches my heart, eye contact with someone who sees me and acknowledges my presence is a beautiful gesture. Small acts of kindness and attention toward someone else are beautiful.
A few years ago, I was walking in an outdoor labyrinth surrounded by mature trees. As I walked along the path I saw objects that embellished my experience. The colourful crystals and stones as well as sculptures were placed along the irregular network of passages. Moving in harmony with my breath, slowly connecting with myself, I was in perfect communion with nature.
At some point in my exploration, I noticed a ceramic butterfly nailed on a tree. I felt attracted to touch it, slowly I started to trace the contour of the ceramic insect. I closed my eyes, I felt the intricacy of this object as I engaged with all my senses.
All of a sudden I heard:
Do you know why you love beauty? Do you know why is beauty so important in your life?
You love beauty because you have so much beauty inside of you.
I was in awe of this unexpected revelation.
Was I dreaming? Who was talking to me?
Other people were ahead of me or at a fair distance behind me. No one else was close to me and all of us were there in this space in silent communion.
Tears were rolling down my face. I realized I heard something not present to the ear, but what I assume, was a whisper from my soul. I was relieved to discover a secret that was long kept from me.
You see, for many years my love affair with beauty has been ambiguous.
I was always extremely sensitive to all forms of beauty, but I invariably felt guilty to indulge in my needs and desires. I believed I had to justify myself or to ignore my true self in order to merge into someone else.
My impulse to listen to my emotions, to connect with my heart, to shed layers, to open my soul to see the beauty in me were the first few steps towards my journey into my inner beauty. Since then I have been looking more closely at the treasures I have been taking for granted and as they unfold in my daily life I am observing their magnificence.
What is your relationship with beauty? Is it essential in your life? What are the inner beautiful traits you see in yourself and in others?
Exploring beauty and acknowledging the importance or non importance in your life is a starting point in your self discovery journey to your heart.
May you celebrate with reverence all forms of beauty in your life.
Follow France on Instagram at Standingbyyourside65 where she shares inspirational stories and insights on living a beautiful and meaningful life 8 years after having a Traumatic Brain Injury from a cycling accident.