While some older men chase young, beautiful girls I wonder what in the world they find to talk about?! Yes, youth and beauty are attractive but now having seen the world through the prism of some age other things have become much more important to me. First, I've found that there is almost always something beautiful about every woman. Real beauty, however, can only come from the inside.
I heard a quote attributed to Robert Redford once that said something like: "Women don't really get interesting until after 40." I'm pretty much in agreement with that sentiment. I'd much rather have someone interesting to talk to than an empty-headed beauty queen. It's not that I don't think a man should find a woman physically attractive at all. It's just that there are things that last much longer than pretty faces. Character leaps to mind here. A woman of Godly character is a much more rare, and more beautiful, creature.
As we go through life it seems to me that the only thing we really take with us are our fellow time travelers and our common experiences. It's just nice to be able to talk to someone who "remembers when". For example, it's kind of nice to be able to ask a woman where she was when Kennedy was killed and not have her think I'm talking about John-John! (My old joke is that I remember exactly where I was standing when it happened...on the grassy knoll reloading!! It's a little twisted, I know!) Young girls just don't have enough life experience to have much to talk about.
The young, unconsciously, seem to think that they will be young forever...despite all evidence to the contrary. Young, beautiful women quickly learn the power they have over men. And, they learn to use it very effectively to get what they want. The danger in that, it seems to me, is that some only focus on their looks and forget that they will grow older someday. As these women grow older they don't have the other assets that some develop. Some older women, like 'we' ugly old men, learn to rely on intelligence and a good sense of humor, among the other weapons in their arsenals, instead of relying solely on their physical charms. And, truthfully, I prefer talking to an intelligent woman!
As a man I've never thought much about being physically handsome. Being handsome is not something I've ever been burdened with! (Oh, I know some men do focus on it but...they're the ones that don't get invited on hunting trips!) Most men would rather be thought of as strong in some way while most women would rather be thought of as beautiful. There are different kinds of strength like there are different kinds of beauty. The truth is strength is a quality of really beautiful women too.
In some ways I feel sorry for women who rely so much on their physical charms because such things always fade. In a similar way physical strength always fades. Character remains. Our character is the light that shines in us. As we grow older, good character can shine more brightly. I believe all people, men and women, should focus first on good character. It is only what we can take with us when they close the lids of our coffins that really matters after all.
I think it's possible to continue to grow spiritually, and as a person, for as long as we live. That means there's always room for our character to grow. There is always something new to learn or experience. People who live thus are always more interesting to me. Perhaps it's because they are less focused on themselves than young, beautiful people tend to be.
Of course there is always the reality that, as an old and ugly guy, I'm never going to attract a young, beautiful woman again so....out of self defense I guess I needed to change the way I see beauty anyway! Finding pretty women is easy enough. I've seen some grow up. It's learning to see myself as old enough to be their father that has been a little harder. It's a sad fact that I don't feel older! Like I said, I don't know that I'd have much to talk about with a young lady at any rate. I'm just learning to appreciate them as beautiful...young....ladies...in a paternal way of course!!
I think there is nothing more beautiful than a mature, Godly woman who is at peace with herself. There's no question there's a strength in such a woman. I also admire the strength of a Godly, mature man at peace with himself. There's a beauty in that. I know something about the difficulty on the road that leads there and I admire all those who have developed the character to travel it. I have no desire to be rich or famous, and I'm never going to be pretty! I just want to be a man with strength of character; one who appreciates real beauty. If only it was that easy to find...
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