For my Anthropology class midterm, I get to write a paper on inner and outer beauty and how they relate to each other. Tonight some awesome guys to whom I will be forever in debt, came over and we had a nice little powow. I think I have enough material to write five midterms, but I think I'll probably just write one ;0)

And so obviously, I've been thinking a lot on this topic lately. What is beauty? How is it that a person can literally evolve from being absolutely beautiful, and within five seconds of speaking become so unattractive, or vice versa? What do you think of the "world's" concept of beauty vs your own? What is your standard?

I have gained a completely new perspective on this just over the past two years. My concepts of beauty have radically changed and I feel like an entirely new person. It's not often that people get a chance to change so wholly, but I'm one of those. Being bald was hard. My hair was such a security blanket to me. I lavished hours of time washing, drying, straightening (not because it was curly), to make it "perfect." All gone in less than five weeks.

The funny thing is that "before," I received compliment after compliment on my hair each day. Now, it's the same. In fact, I believe people tell me even more than they used to that they love my hair. But it's not because of the $100 and two hours I spent at a salon. It's just curly, fun, natural and ME! Before now I never would have thought that curly and short could go together and be beautiful.

Yes, eventually when my hair is long enough I will try straightening it some days and leaving it curly the next. I'm not going to neglect my hair just because I know it is temporary. It's just my obsession with it that has changed. My beauty or lack thereof no longer revolves around my hair. I'm happy with it short. I'm happy with it not California blonde (although it may get back to that stage naturally...if only it were summer!!!). I'm happy with me.