The very thought of the word ‘Beauty’ thrills and kindles imagination. Beauty is an inner feeling about the external world. It’s the perception of the invisible mind about anything visible to our eyes. Nature manifests the beauty in several ways and dimensions. Flowers & fruits, Rainbow, Sunset, and Snow-covered mountains are some examples. Children look beautiful due to the innocence. It’s strange to see some people taking all measures to beautify their selves and stay slim, but do not guide their children in the same direction. As a consequence, the kids grow out of shape and look older than their parents. The majority of the people gives importance to the impermanent superficiality than the strength of the flawless minds.
Beauty is a relative concept and depends on the viewer: what is beauty for one person makes no impact on another. Admiration of beauty is permissible, but not the possession of it unless available for ownership. Visitors are cautioned not to touch the exhibits in a palace or pluck the flowers in a garden. Humans crave for beauty since the day of civilization. All resources right from the roots of the plants to the milk of animals have been tapped to keep the beauty intact. In the modern times, costly cosmetic techniques like plastic surgery, liposuction, transplantation, etc. are in place in addition to the use of chemical preparations such as creams, gels, shampoos, and lotions. Artists and actors need the makeup for their livelihood.
Beauty consists of Natural and Artificial types. Anything that appears attractive in its original form is a natural beauty. Animals and birds look grand without any clothes or jewelry. The attires and cosmetics, make even an ugly person look smart. A Tamil proverb ‘Clothes make man complete’ confirms this. However, to impress others, some wear expensive dresses while some bare their organs. The conduct and character reveal the beauty of the human mind. Many are well dressed, but they lack in demeanor. There are personalities like Mahatma Gandhi that dressed simply but displayed the beauty through wisdom and sacrifice. It’s a common saying that Beauty and talent cannot be found together in a person.
Beautification of the body with the natural materials is better than the employment of synthetics. The latter is not only costly but produces harmful side effects. For example, the regular use of the hair dye is reported to cause allergies like sinusitis, loss of color and texture of the normal hair besides running the risks of various cancers. Moreover, the costs of medical care and the personal sufferings to replenish the normal health are avoidable. The extra time spent to decorate oneself sometimes ended in missing the journey or appointment. Why should we invite trouble by spending our efforts and money unwisely?
The beauty of the body fades with the age, while the beautiful minds enliven the life forever. Nonetheless, the beautification helps to raise our spirits and build self-confidence. Any overindulgence adversely affects our time, health, and money. Dr. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, said, “Dreams of Beauty will derail our duties, Dreams of duty will make the life beautiful.”