The younger one stepped closer and said, "You are so, so beautiful."
She repeated it a few times, in between me thanking her and trying to figure out what to say .
It all made me incredibly sad. Little do they know that to me, and to many back home, these two women are immensely beautiful. But they looked at me as if they were anything but, and stared at me in awe as if I was on this higher plane of existence. I've never had anyone look at me like that before; I felt so uncomfortable, though grateful for their compliments. I hope one day they know that they are each beautiful in ways with which I am not able to compare.
P.S. Ha, since coming here, I have felt anything but beautiful. I feel like I am always a big sweaty mess! I'm not fishin' for a compliment here, I'm just sayin'.
I hearken to this sentiment so deeply! This has been a constant encounter as I've traveled, especially throughout SouthEast Asia. Beauty is overwhelmingly culture boud, and yet, to imagine it does not affect each and every one of us is another con. I could talk on this for days! The power of perception, the weight of presentation, and how we manifest that for good or evil. I love your humility. I am sending you a piece I wrote about such sweat now. I rarely claim complete empathy, but listen darling, I can confidently say I know how you feel to sweat and still be ogled at. Truly different.
ReplyDeleteI know, right?! I always love reading your stuff, so send it to me when you have a sec. And I need empathy on sweat right now.
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