What is Beautiful?

In my journalism class we were talking about what makes a great news story. We were talking about objectivity and subjectivity.

In a news story, it is crucial for it to be "objective." Objective means truth. Objectivity is something we can prove. Like, "The temperature of the room is 60 degrees." We can walk over to the thermostat and prove that it is indeed 60 degrees. Objectivity creates credibility. It creates a trust between the reader and the writer. My professor's point was to keep the subjective things out of our news stories.

Subjectivity? Well ... that is our opinion. It is something that we cannot prove. For example, "That house is beautiful." There is no way that we can prove that. It is that person's opinion that the house is beautiful. To another person, it could be the ugliest house they have ever seen. It is purely impossible to prove that the house is beautiful.

The professor continued to give us words that were subjective, suggesting that we avoid them in our stories at all costs. These words are detrimental to writing an objective story.

These examples and definitions really got me thinking. The last thing on my mind was a news story, I'll tell you that. There was one word on that list that stuck out to me.

"Beautiful."

Never ever use the word "beautiful." It can never be proven to be true.

Truth. Proven.
Opinion. Unprovable.

There are so many people in this world, including myself, striving to be beautiful. When simply ... beautiful is just an opinion. Beautiful isn't truth. Why are we all striving after something that is inevitably impossible? We run around beating ourselves up over it, trying to define beautiful, when it simply cannot be. It can never be.

That doesn't stop us from trying, though. Beautiful is skinny. Beautiful is wearing makeup. Beautiful is wearing name brands. Beautiful is having long hair. All of these statements cannot be proven. No matter how hard we try.

We can prove the truth. We can't prove our opinions.

There are tons of people on this earth trying the latest diet ... trying no food at all ... trying medication ... trying hours in the gym ... just to be skinny. They think they will be beautiful. They will have achieved this "truth." These people are just trying to fit the subjectivity of the world.

My whole life I've been struggling with this and I know I'm not the only one. Even if I do lose a few pounds, there is no guarantee that a guy will find me beautiful. It's an opinion. To one person, I could be ugly. To another, I could be the most beautiful person in the world. Even then, his opinion can't be proven. I'm not the most beautiful woman in the world. You know why? Because the most beautiful woman doesn't exist.

There are so many opinions out there. The world is full of them. No matter what someone thinks about me, I shouldn't care. It could be an opinion on either side of the spectrum. If someone thinks I'm a terrible person? Okay, I won't get upset over it. They can't prove that. If someone thinks I'm the sweetest person? I wont get too confident over it, I'll stay grounded. They can't prove that either.

I have to stop caring about other people's opinions. I have to stop trying to change myself to try to be these subjective things. I have to stop living my life for them. I need to live my life for me and my subjectivity. The only opinion that matters ... is my own. Why? Because it is mine. If I am happy with my curves, then I should be allowed to think I am beautiful. If I want to eat a piece of chocolate, I shouldn't feel guilty. If I ever want to lose a few pounds, it should be for me, because I want to be healthier. I should never ever feel bad about myself over someone else's opinion ever again.

No one should ever feel bad about themselves because of someone's opinion. There are thousands of opinions you will encounter in the world. Not all of them will be negative. There is someone out there who views you in the most positive light and that, in my opinion, is beautiful.

In our highest of times of confidence and in our lowest of times of insecurity we need to remember one thing ... subjectivity will never be objective.