I work in a business that seems obsessed with looks, so how I snuck in there is anyone’s guess. I guess substance must count for something. In any case, Ursula, happily my version of Old Faithful ,talked about looks in her comments on my last entry so I think we will gloss over the superficial subject in this veneer-thin entry.
Trinidad ( less so Tobago) is blessed with a rich combination of ethnicities that frequently combine resulting in some often stunningly attractive people. Perhaps it is the magic of the exotic but I think it is more than that. Different races ( if we can still use that rather archaic term) often have specific visual differences . Indians, for example, are often singled out for their trademark almond eyes, though I would guess it is only a fairly small percentage who actually have such peepers. Here in Trinidad it is not unusual to see someone with almond eyes, striking African warrior cheekbones, a Roman nose and jet black Asian hair. I am proud to say I have been told on several occasions the reporters of ieTV are by far the best looking in the country.
I read on the BBC site a while back that good looks can help people do better in most aspects of life which should come as a surprise to no one. In the work world it seems obvious that if a boss is choosing between two people of equal talent and experience the better looking one would probably have the edge – especially if it is a business that involves interacting with the public. And I guess in the world of personal relationships the advantages of looking hot speaks for itself. According to the article, as I recall, good looking people are also assumed to be more honest ( perhaps that explains the TV thing). Ultimately, all these things are utter nonsense, of course, looks have nothing to do with your ability to do a job well, the qualities that make a good mate come from inside and given the WWII pilot appearance of most used car salesmen – honesty is not related to looks.
I will admit, despite my beliefs, I am as influenced by looks as most people but I hope my better judgment prevails in most cases. My mother is a guiding force in my life and growing up she was regarded by most as a very beautiful woman. She knew this and paid considerable attention to her looks. In the late 1970s , following a family dispute and my father’s usual penchant for drama, my mother, father, brother and myself were involved in a particularly bad car accident. The accident that resulted in my mother hitting the windshield face on, and me flying over her from the back seat and ending up on the car bonnet. No seat belts in those days in Ford Cortinas . My face still bears the scars on my nose and forehead and up to last week I had a shard of glass working its way through my skin. My poor mother had her face basically ripped off. Her teeth were knocked out, her nose was ripped from her face and she had her face severely lacerated. Many reconstructive surgeries over the years later and she still does not look as she did before the accident – but she is still the most beautiful woman in the world in my eyes. She told me once that the good thing she learned from the experience was that she valued looks too much and now she knows true beauty is not a superficial thing. As usual ( except for me being a lawyer) – she is right. Whenever I find myself thinking someone attractive is a better choice I now ask myself “are they better inside”?
I have heard the joke “beauty is only skin deep but ugly is to the bone” and i agree there are people who are ugly to the bone – but for different reasons. Some of the ugliest people I know are externally beautiful.We may all slip but I say judge by the person inside.
And Ursula – thanks for the inspiration.
