This quote by Theodore Roosevelt inspired me to create an image in which many types of beauty are explored. The beauty of the natural world is expressed by the flowers, pearls, and barely visible, Pink Lady apple. The beauty of made things is shown in the silver objects and red leather gloves. And of course, the beauty of youth is expressed by the young woman who is shown in contrast to the idealized beauty of the statue behind her.

Too many young women fail to appreciate their beauty because they compare themselves to cultural ideals of beauty that are unrealistic; airbrushed photos of models and actors who have been prepped and primped for hours. It is only many years later that they come to appreciate how beautiful they were in their youth and many women never do. 

Every age, place, and circumstance has its beauties, but they are so often overlooked or misunderstood in the fruitless activity of comparison: this age with that, this color with that, this feature with that, and on and on until the joy of beauty is stolen by the comparisons. Let’s just stop this. Let’s just acknowledge the beauty that is everywhere even where we least expect it.