In a time when youthfulness is commonly held up as the only measure of beauty, I found it deeply heart warming and a great reminder when my friend, married for 20 years, said to me while talking about her half century old husband, “I think he’s more handsome now than the he was the day we met 30 years ago.”

In defense of my old pal, he looks damn good on the outside. He takes care of his body, his health and takes a humble pride in his appearance as does his bride, and that’s really important. But it’s not the most significant reason that he recieved such a golden compliment from his lady. It’s his decency, bravery, and their commitment to each other and the common obstacles and enemies the two of them have fought together over the last 2.5 decades that adds to his beauty. Tackling sickness, death of family members, calamity and thousands and thousands of hours raising kids and building a life together impact his profile far more than his broad shoulders and healthy physique.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a fine French writer said, It’s only with the heart that one sees rightly, what’s essential is invisible to the eye.”

I think Saint-Exupéry was right and I think wether one is in or out of a relationship the more we work on the stuff on the inside the more beautiful (and whole) we become.

Train smart, have fun and never give up,
CD