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The Face of Life
By karen | February 2, 2007
At a recent trip to the grocery store I saw the face of discontent. How I was able to recognize it was discontent surprised and astonished me. As I was shopping, I saw an older woman. She was elegantly dressed. She had diamonds on her fingers, wrists and neck. She had the kind of face that you knew at one time she was considered to be a great beauty. In her case, the beauty did not fade but it was gone just the same.
As she surveyed the produce and pushed her shopping cart down the aisle I could see the frown permanently etched upon her face. Her facial expressions changed as she shopped yet the frown upon her face did not leave. I could see that she had been dissatisfied, disenchanted, and unhappy with her life. Her face showed that she had lived her life wallowing in the discouragement and despondency of a life that for some reason or another did not meet her expectations and she chose to focus only upon the disappointment.
Inside my own mind I was shocked that I could see this so clearly written upon her face. I did not know this woman. I had never seen her before. Perhaps I was wrong. I do not know. I am not passing judgment but just retelling what I perceived and what I read in her face. Her permanently unhappy countenance had a distinct and memorable effect on me.
I remember reading long ago something to the effect that when we are young we have the natural beauty that we were born with but that as we age, the way we live and the way we approach life shows up on our faces.
Since my short encounter with this woman I have searched faces of the young and the old. The most beautiful faces of older people are happy and peaceful. You can see Joy in life in their eyes. Look around; you will see it too. Have you ever seen a centenarian with an unhappy face? It is doubtful that anyone makes it to 100 years of age without finding a sense of peace, joy and happiness in life. As I have searched and studied the faces of the young and the old it is very apparent to me that the beauty of a happy and well-lived life shows up in the visage. Discontent, discouragement and disagreeableness also shows up in the faces. You can see it so clearly if you really look.
As a person gets to a certain age, no amount of makeup or plastic surgery can cover up a life of discontent and disharmony. At the same time the beauty and magnificence of a life well lived and appreciated will radiate its splendor for everyone to see.
A life well lived is not a life devoid of problems. In fact, quite the contrary as good things and bad things happen to us all. It’s never about what happens to us. It is always about how we react and how we choose to live with what happens to us.
When you are old will others still see the beauty in your face? I hope that when I am old my face can be even more beautiful than when I was a small child because I chose to make the best of my life and I chose to live happily and joyfully.
Everyday we make the choice of how to live. Everyday it shows in our face. What do you want to make permanent, a happy and joyous countenance or a scowl of discontent?
This article is included in the Personal Growth Carnival 28th Edition located at BryanCFleming.com
This article is included in the Carnival of Observations of Life February 12, 2007 edition.
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Topics: Personal Development, Living the Power, Gratitude and Appreciation |
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March 19th, 2007 at 2:23 am
The Face of Life
I feel that it is possible to see the face of life not only from old people. I can see it from people who are much younger around 25 years old. How did I know? Because people used to tell me that I should have a more positive outlook of life. They can …
March 19th, 2007 at 7:56 am
Yes, you can see it in younger people, too. It just doesn’t seem so permanent!
Thanks for stopping by!
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:25 pm
It pays to live in gratitude. Or, maybe I should use the word “saves”; because, you save what you would spend in medical bills, and plastic surgery.