Day 87, March 28

"Beauty comes from a life well lived. If you've lived well, your smile lines are in the right places, and your frown lines aren't too bad. What more do you need?" -- Jennifer Garner. I appreciate the sentiments in this quote. I appreciate as well the fact that it came from a Hollywood star, someone accustomed to the superficiality of that culture. Too frequently, our society prizes youth and beauty above all else. We spend billions of dollars a year trying to achieve an artificial standard set forth by the media. Who can match the air-brushed beauty of a model as shown in a glossy magazine? I am not immune to this pressure. Yesterday, I experimented with some new makeup, trying to achieve a "youthful dew." I made a mess of it and of myself and ended up having to wash my face and start all over again. There is certainly nothing wrong in trying to look our best; that is only natural. The problems start when we think that we are somehow less because we do not and cannot equal the looks of a movie star. I had a dear friend whose age rested easily upon her face. Rather than wrinkles, she wore smile lines proudly. Her eyes were alight with humor, interest in the world around her, and compassion for others. Sadly, she passed away a few years ago, but her example of looking for and finding something to laugh about each day remains with me. I did not see her years (she was nearly 84 when she left us); instead, I saw her delight in her friends and a determination to wring joy out of every moment. So, for today, I am grateful for those whose smile lines are in the right places.