The mere thought of the word ‘Beauty’ excites and ignites the imagination. Beauty is an inner feeling about the outer world. It is the perception of the invisible mind about anything visible to our eyes. Nature manifests beauty in various forms and dimensions. Flowers and Fruits, Rainbow, Sunset, and Snow-Covered Mountains are some examples. Children look beautiful because of innocence. It is strange to see some people who take all measures to beautify themselves and stay slim, but do not guide their children in the same direction. As a consequence, children lose shape and appear older than their parents. Most people give more importance to impermanent superficiality than to the strength of perfect minds.

Beauty is a relative concept and depends on the viewer: what is beautiful for one person does not affect another. Admiration of beauty is permitted, but not possession of it unless it is available for ownership. Visitors are warned not to touch exhibits in a palace or pick flowers in a garden. Human beings crave beauty since the days of civilization. All resources have been used, from the roots of plants to the milk of animals, to keep the beauty intact. In modern times, expensive cosmetic techniques like plastic surgery, liposuction, transplantation, etc. in addition to the use of chemical preparations such as creams, gels, shampoos and lotions. Artists and actors need makeup for their livelihood.

Beauty consists of natural and artificial types. Anything that looks attractive in its original form is a natural beauty. Animals and birds look great without clothing or jewelry. Outfits and cosmetics make even an ugly person look smart. A Tamil proverb ‘The clothing completes the man’ confirms this. However, to impress others, some wear expensive dresses while others show off their bodies. Conduct and character reveal the beauty of the human mind. Many are well dressed, but lack manners. There are personalities like Mahatma Gandhi who dressed simply but showed beauty through wisdom and sacrifice. It is a common saying that beauty and talent cannot be found together in one person.

The embellishment of the body with natural materials is better than the use of synthetic materials. The latter is not only expensive but also produces harmful side effects. For example, regular use of hair dye is reported to cause allergies such as sinusitis, loss of color and normal hair texture, as well as risk various types of cancer. In addition, the costs of medical care and personal suffering to regain normal health are avoidable. The extra time spent dressing up sometimes ended in her missing the trip or the appointment. Why should we invite trouble by spending our efforts and money recklessly?

The beauty of the body fades with age, while beautiful minds animate life forever. However, beautifying helps to lift your spirits and build self-confidence. Any excess adversely affects our time, health and money. Dr Abdul Kalam, the former president of India said, “Dreams of beauty will derail our duties, dreams of duty will make life beautiful.”