Beauty is not just found in ‘the eyes’ of the beholder

by Jill Ogden

Living with a degenerative retinal disease, I’ve watched my world slowly dim as my vision has faded. Over the years, I have lost many things. I have lost the ability to see colors, recognize faces, or watch the waves roll across the water. My heart aches for the little joys I miss, like,  print books, paper planners, smiles, sunsets, rainbows, storm clouds, and even my reflection in the mirror, something I often disliked in my teens. I miss the beautiful things I can no longer see.

Last autumn, I visited the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, a place overflowing with beauty. The experience was bittersweet. I stroked the soft petals of geraniums lining the porch, traced the intricate moldings, felt plush textured carpets underfoot, pressed my cheek to embroidered fabrics, and admired the exquisite craftsmanship of antique  furniture and decorative art throughout the hotel. In that moment, I found myself grieving for all the beauty that now lay beyond my reach, all the sights I haven’t seen in years and won’t see in the years to come.

Yogic philosophy suggests that beauty is an essential quality of the universe, woven throughout nature and present in all things. From this perspective, seeking beauty connects us to our true selves and nourishes our sense of wholeness. The appreciation and yearning for beauty lives within us all. While vision loss sometimes brings sorrow for what I once could see, I’m learning that I have a choice in how I respond. There are days when grief and bitterness surface, but my longing for beauty encourages me to notice and embrace what remains, in whatever form I can experience it.

This awareness helps me to value the richness still present in my life, even when it comes in new shapes and sensations. I find beauty in the sound of my children’s laughter, the welcoming aroma of a roast as family gathers, the warmth of a loving hand, the wind whispering through the trees, the scent of crisp autumn nights, and the song of crickets in the darkness, the taste of tart apple softened by caramel, and the gentle embrace of the autumn sun.

These things  remind me there are always new wonders to discover. Each day, beauty offers itself, whether it be a kind word, heartfelt conversation, or even learning to see one’s self in a new way.

Beauty can be found all around us. We simply need to recognize it.