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I believe that beauty is a feeling of resonance. What we define as beautiful is not in the “beautiful” thing itself but instead in how it makes us feel. I think that this is the alignment of said beautiful things with your emotions, values, and memories to form feelings of comfort and pleasure. Whether this “something” be an image, a moment, person, or a sound, it should resonate with us . This is why I agree with David Hume about beauty being subjective. What resonates with one may not resonate with another because we all have unique experiences, perspectives, sensory sensitivities, memories, and desires. As Hume says, beauty is based on the sensations created by something - beauty is not something quantitative with a set criteria, but is instead an immeasurable interaction between self and the thing we feel is beautiful.
However, there are many things the vast majority of people would agree to be beautiful. The explanation for this can be found in commonly felt senses, emotions, and memories - or common resonances. In this belief, I agree with Kant (to an extent). The human mind works in certain ways in all people. Flowers, for example, are widely known as beautiful. The first reason for this is how they appeal to us through our senses. The bright colours and the (oftentimes) symmetrical shapes create a visual that feels pleasant and calming. The human brain finds comfort in symmetry. The sweet scents also add to the positive sensory experience. We make a judgement of a flower’s beauty based on the way, as Kant would say, our minds process these senses. Flowers are also oftentimes used as a symbol of congratulation, love, and gratitude. We see this in their use in graduation ceremonies, weddings, and birthdays. This can create feelings of positive resonance, which is what I define beauty as. Additionally, flowers are temporary - though their lifespans vary depending on the type of flower, cut flowers have an average lifespan of around 5 to 12 days.
I think that a limited time frame and rarity adds to what we perceive to be beautiful because humans are masters of adaptation. We become used to things quickly and easily. Even if the thing we find beautiful remains constant, we can become numb to it if we are around it all the time. It’s like a beautiful things supply and demand, of sorts. Rarity allows us to be hyperaware and remain sensitive to the beautiful things around us.
Beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder. Stay alert or you may miss all the beauty that surrounds you!
May 29, 2025
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appreciating and acknowledging all of the beautiful people places and things around us memory may be fleeting but beauty is not
Jan 25, 2024
The times when I start thinking about my body too much, I remember that I don’t really pay attention to other peoples bodies. It really doesn’t register to me. I don’t judge how other people look. Rather, I judge how I get along with them and the energy they give off. I truly believe that everyone has beauty.
I take care of my body’s needs. I have had to evolve as I have grown. I try to eat food that feels good and keep myself strong. I think that feeling strong is important to me. I wear clothes that feel good on my body and spend very little time in front of the mirror. I focus more on who I am as a person. Like the Roald Dahl picture attached, I think our inside shines outward. I’ve met “beautiful“ people who were ugly af.
My body has changed in a bunch of different ways since having my children. There’s always pressure to try to look how you did before having kids, but I think that is ridiculous. Every single thing about me has changed, why wouldn’t I want my body to reflect that growth as well?
It is helpful for me to think about all the people that I have loved in my life. Their stunning beauty in my eyes is not because they are perfect, but because of my love for them. I wouldn’t want them any other way then exactly who they are.
Sep 29, 2024
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being open to seeing the small details and beauties of everyday life. I feel like trying to remind myself to view the world this way has helped with both happiness and creativity.
The world is filled with immense emotion and to be able to feel that is beautiful
Dec 19, 2023
Top Recs from @hannahlyoo
bugs are but small, fleeting wonders that remind us the world is alive. to them we owe the fruit on our tables and the bloom of spring. to them we owe gentleness.
6d ago
all the flowers ever. to commemorate and remember the first and last time i will ever be 17 in spring.
6d ago
i stare directly into the setting sun knowing that it will shorten the lifespan of my eyes. i am not yet fearful of the consequence and would rather see the beauty in its full effect now. there is beauty in naivety.
5d ago