Self Image "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"

[Jay Anderson]

   It has been said that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but what is being held and by whom?  How one sees themselves affects all aspects of that person's life.

The song "Images" by Nina Simone, taken from a poem, addresses someone who is not beholding themselves through their own eyes.

The lyrics are as follows:

"She does not know
Her beauty,
She thinks her brown body
Has no glory.
If she could dance
Naked,
Under palm trees
And see her image in the river
She would know.
But there are no palm trees
On the street,
And dishwater gives back no images."

What can you tell about the importance of seeing oneself from one's own eyes after listening to the song "Images" by Nina Simone?  Would that be important to do and why?

Other suggested songs:

"Girl Blue" by Stevie Wonder

(which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbnQWQpz5hM)

The Lyrics are:

"Hello Morning, good, good morning to the one I love,
Crystal Ringlets paint a picture of a gold sunrise above.

Little girl you're sad,
Though all you have,
is visible to you.
Within your heart
there stays a part
That like the sky is blue.

Shifting breezes, grace the inner spectrum of your glance.
Leaves on branches, for your pleasure, perform a soothing dance.

Little girl it seems
in all my dreams
Your happiness is due.
But still they last,
their in your past
Events that make you blue.

Thoughts of love are in your mind,
Yet splintered hopes push them aside.
A look at life is what you need to try.

In an instant there'll be sunshine,
sprinkled every place.
Drops of rain will kiss the softness of your lovely face.

Little girl be fair
Show yourself you care,
let others care for you.
Before it's too late,
Cause time won't wait,
Till your heart's no longer blue.

Little girl be smart,
Don't break your own heart,
There is love waiting for you.
Before it's too late
Cause time won't wait,
Til your heart's no longer blue."

and "Unpretty" by TLC

(which can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2gy1Evb1Kg)

Lyrics:

I wish i could tie you up in my shoes
Make you feel unpretty too
I was told I was beautiful
But what does that mean to you
Look into the mirror who's inside there
The one with the long hair
Same old me again today (yeah)


My outsides are cool
My insides are blue
Every time I think i'm through
It's because of you
I've tried different ways
But its all the same
At the end of the day
I have my self to blame
I'm just trippin

Chorus:
You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up
that M.AC. can make
But if you can't look inside you
Find out who am I too
Be in a position to make me feel
So damn unpretty
I'll make you feel unpretty to

Never insecure until I met you
Now I'm bein stupid
I used to be so cute to me
Just a little bit skinny
Why do I look to all these things
To keep you happy
Maybe get rid of you
And then i'll get back to me (hey)

My outsides looks cool
My insides are blue
Everytime I think I'm through
It's because of you
I've tried different ways
But it's all the same
At the end of the day
I have myself to blame
Keep on trippin


You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up
that M.A.C can make
But if you can look inside you
Find out who am I too
Be in a position to make me feel
So damn unpretty


You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up
that M.A.C can make
But if you can look inside you
Find out who am I too
Be in a position to make me feel
So damn unpretty
I'll make you feel unpretty to(i'll make u feel unpretty too)


oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh (oh)
oh oh oh oh oh
oh oh oh oh oh (oh)


You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up
that M.A.C can make
But if you can look inside you
Find out who am I too
Be in a position to make me feel
So damn unpretty


You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up
That M.A.C can make
But if you can look inside you
Find out who am I too
Be in a position to make me feel
So damn unpretty
I'll make you feel unpretty too

[Clifford Black]

here is the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMDQ6b_bEhs

B.