Five Days of Beauty: Day 4-Where I Find Beauty

As someone who was raised in small-town U.S.A., moved to Chicago for college, and now lives overseas, the things that have influenced my understanding of beauty are numerous and vast in kind. If I never lived in Chicago or was never exposed to India, my understanding of things found in those places or cultures would have been meaningless to me, and I would not have appreciated the fullness of beauty that is found in them. I still have much to learn, and I know there are more beautiful things to discover in many more places and cultures, but I am here now, and soaking in all I can.

Below I have listed things in which I find beauty for various reasons- some purely out of physical reasons, some for sentimental reasons, and some because of how I grew from them.

I find beauty in a sunset over the hills and fields of my homeland, the concrete jungle of downtown Chicago, and the Mugal handprint in the design of Rajasthan's great palaces.

I find beauty in the orderly lines of the corn in the fields of the Mid-west, the planned, gridline of the streets of Chicago, and the line of hills that surround my current city.

I find beauty in the sound of the horses' hooves clip-cloping down the street as it carries it's riders in a buggy behind it, the sound of the "L" train on its track carrying Chicagoans, and the music of the band in a marriage procession, with the groom atop an elephant, going to meet his bride.

I find beauty in my genetically deformed toes, my small, little apartment above my dear landlord's family, and the laughter I hear come from downstairs.

I find beauty in the flavors of good cheese, chocolate, and coffee.

I find beauty in smells that remind me of the past, people, and pumpkin.

I find beauty in well fitting clothing, shoes (remember, deformed toes... ya, those make it hard to find good shoes), and glasses.

I find beauty in the company of friends and family, and in being alone.

I find beauty in the sound of the ukulele, spoken word, and the sitar.

I find beauty in the comfort of jeans and a t-shirt, the simplicity of a little black dress, and the specificity in the draping of a sari.

What informs your understanding of beauty and where do you find it? Seriously, I want to know. Tell me in the comments below.
AJ