There is no doubt that looking good contributes enormously
to confidence and the self-assurance of knowing that your appearance belies
your years. Any woman who dismisses
beautifying routines as unnecessary vanity in this age of equality is really
only fooling herself. What is more, she is the one who is out of line, because
she is using the old standards and values for her judgement.
Attractiveness today is light years away from putting on a
pretty face to please a man. It is still a part of it, of course, and it’s the
honest women who admit it, but today’s brand of good looks have to do with
personal pride and self-respect, and are centered on the quality of your
physical attributes, not the dressing-up of them. Is your skin in the best of
condition? Is your hair shining and healthy? Is your body skin smooth and soft?
Are your hands and feet immaculate? That is what beauty is about now – and
these values embrace all age groups.
Pretending beauty does not matter is a delusion. Most women
would like to be as beautiful as possible, but too many think in terms of
standardized beauty, which is completely wrong. There are so many dimensions to
beauty, not the least being the special appeal of individuality that it is
nonsense to strive for a certain look. Being comfortable with whom you are and what
you look like is vital, but this does not mean that you should ignore the ways
and means to make the very best of your external image. Staying younger has a
lot to do with how you present your package to others -all right, it may only
be the outside wrapping, but it says a great deal about your inner feelings and
attitude. In addition, it is fundamental to first impression.
Two literary science fiction short stories about women making difficult life choices. The A side, "Emily's Fifth Birthday" was a semi-finalist in the Writers of the Future contest. The B side, "Alternative Medicine," was originally published in Alternative Coordinates.
