Beauty is more than skin deep

Admiring beauty is a perplexing emotion. I think it is an emotion exclusive to humans - but I may be wrong.

In Nature we often see animals, especially birds, who appear to develop beautiful plumage to attract a mate, but do those creatures actually feel enthralled and mesmerised by beauty as we do?

Humans appear to have slightly varying tastes as far as admiring beauty is concerned, particularly when it comes to other people, but we also have a lot in common when it comes to Nature's works of art.

Take for instance the following photos:

The eye: One of Nature's masterpieces

The graceful elegance of a bird in flight

Refreshing...yet warm

Nature's powerful pyrotechnic displays

Lilac snow and red sky: Paul Gauguin must have painted it

The sizzling, sensual Cheryl Cole - enchants most boys... and some girls

I don't know about you lot, but all the images above evoke within me feelings of wonderment, awe, fascination, incredulity and astonishment.

Surely it's not just me...is it?

:)

In Praise of Beauty

Sofia is a friend from Madeira; a friend I happen to miss a lot.

I may even miss her much more than I should.

We chat a lot on FB. She is funny, bubbly, adorable and...extremely beautiful.

Up until recently Sofia had no idea how I felt about her. She didn't know I miss her more than I should. Why should she? It's not as if I was in a hurry to announce my feelings. 

After all, Sofia belongs to a different world. A world  I can only dream about but never dwell within. A world of different generations.

I do allow my mind to wander, from time to time, and often imagine her in my life. Foolish and futile, of course. After all my life's journey is more than halfway through; hers is merely starting.

And what if she were to fall for me?  How would I feel?  I can't even begin to contemplate the idea.

How I wish I could turn back the hands of time. And belong to her world.

I adore her. She is so alluring, charming and radiant and a joy to be with.

We are friends - and that's all we'll ever be.

Friends.

I write these words with sorrow in my heart.  Reality is often painful.

But reality is where I exist. And reality is also where inconceivable dreams are crushed and implausible  hopes dashed.

But inconceivable dreams and implausible hopes are, at times, all one has.

:(

Surrounded by beauty

Not a single day goes by when I don't feel overwhelmed by beautiful things.

Nature is a great font of beauty - from the iridescent colours of a butterfly's wing to the bruised look of a sky behind storm clouds, the endless catalogue of wonders on display never ceases to amaze me. The resplendence of Nature is truly magical and awe-inspiring.

From magnificent landscapes... 

to amazing animals....

from the micro...

and macro...

to the mega...

from under the oceans...

to human achievement...

and beyond into the Universe...

back to earth and beautiful people...

like my cousin Lisandra

and my friend Claudia

and my son Matthew...

A wonderful and magical world. 

Nature; Sublime, incredible, amazing, all powerful and... completely true!

With so much wonder and magic all around us, it is sad to think some people choose to overlook it all and seek inspiration and meaning from a mythical heaven and it's omnipotent imaginary occupant.

:)

100 Words: Beauty

She sways across my field of vision, not for the first time today, and I momentarily hold my breath. I don't know why I should risk suffocation, but it must have something to do with her beauty.

Stunning-even when at work and half covered
with an ice scoop

She is gorgeous. Silky brow hair just covering her subtle shoulder tattoo, the loveliest sparkling smile and a figure shaped to perfection.

There is not a single sign of ugliness about her. No imperfections, no matter how hard I scrutinize - in a subtle way, of course.

If Nature has created anything as wonderful as woman, it has kept it all to itself.

:)