Patch Blog: What is Beauty?

This week, we turn the tables somewhat, giving the aesthetician a back seat and asking our readers to weigh in on an eternal question: “What is Beauty?”

What lends beauty to readers’ lives—and what does beauty mean to residents, artists and business people in our community? Despite the je ne sais quoi quality of the question, we think a bit of its spirit has been captured in these thoughtful, artfully conceived responses by members of our own Eagle Rock community:

"Beauty is the ability to hear decades of music history, throughout the world, via the hair-thin tip of a stylus."

—Liz Tooley, Co-owner, Permanent Records

"Beauty is radiating and emanating love, kindness and happiness, regardless of your outer shell."

—Clay Patane, Hair Stylist ane Owner,

"In business, the straightforward and honest approach has always worked best for me. Not everyone works that way, but I sleep well at night (a beauty must)! In beauty, it’s a little bit the opposite: I absolutely embrace the powerful (new) products and techniques available, but I don't necessarily wear them on my sleeve. It’s fun to feel pretty and formidable at the same time."

—Nancy Montgomery, owner , Reform Furniture, Inc.

"Beauty is vintage, American made."

—Constance Carr, The Sniveling Sibling.

"To me, beauty is anything and everything—whatever anyone wants it to be in any given moment. Beauty is when we all stop asking this question or even giving a s--t about what's beautiful."

—Amber Sealey, Eagle Rock resident, independent filmmaker, mother.

"In this world, there is false beauty and true beauty. False beauty is what the current media and culture screams at us to imitate. True beauty is in the single rose bud that blossoms from the vast landfill of trash and waste."

—Joel Stovall, chef, , owner, Stovall Catering.