Bare Love

How little we know of the far-reaching effects a simple comment can have in someone’s life.

Nothing is as searing as the intimation that one is not acceptable. So the elderly and imperfect learn to stay to themselves, keeping a distance between them and a world they know perceives them as less than desirable.

In the biological world where youthful beauty and health is attractive due to its ability to procreate and create big healthy babies, this love of immature beauty is understandable, but in today’s world where many prevent procreation, it becomes pointless. Our standards of beauty need to be rethought and perhaps even revamped.

Those slightly faded eyes and that beautiful white hair are lovelier because of the heart that lies beneath them. Withered arms and bulging waistlines backed by an understanding of youth’s youthfulness bring unbelievable amounts of comfort into the world. This is a beauty that must be grown and nurtured for a lifetime.

It is time to teach our youngsters to revere the enduring love and kindness they find in this world, because it is more rare than even the Byzantine Vases they will read about in school. Better than becoming a millionaire by thirty, imagine becoming wise enough to see through the charades that surround us on every side and reach deeply into each person who comes near us in order to feel their human-ness and love.

Caring for someone only to fulfill one’s obligations is not enough. Clean beds and food on the table without loving respect is like placing a dagger in someone’s heart and just pushing it in slowly enough that you hope no one notices.

It is murder no matter how you look at it. Believing it is acceptable for any reason defines who you are.