Dictionary synonyms of the word “beautiful” include: attractive, pretty, handsome, alluring, good-looking, and prepossessive. Again, that is by dictionary definition. However, according to the real experts here (the kids I babysit), beautiful means something different for them. To the younger ones, of course, beautiful means pretty and how you look. The dog is beautiful, and Elsa the princess is beautiful. Do you know what else is beautiful? It is the items that the princess has; her blue flowing dress, flawless makeup, and the way her hair perfectly falls into place. The seven-year-old boy says that his sister is beautiful, and that is getting somewhere right? For the older ones, they believe that being beautiful is not solely based off of how you look, but rather how you feel. It is when you are not mean, but rather kind to people. I also have a different definition of the word “beautiful.”

Beauty is the sunrise at 5 a.m. when the world is still so quiet. Beauty is the way that the rain pours and later forms a rainbow in the clearing skies. Beauty is taking a deep breath and looking out from the mountaintop. It is the sublime sight of a Colorado sunset sky in the evening.

Beauty is laughter and happiness. Beauty is created in memories with the people you love. It is the laughing-so-hard-that-you-can’t-breath kind of laugh and realizing in that moment how great it is to be alive. Beauty is driving with your windows down,hair in the wind, while blasting the radio and belting all of your favorite songs together. Beauty is a smile spreading across one's face.

Beauty is the gracefulness in one’s heart. It is the way that one cares for others and would give the shirt off their back to someone in need. It is the encouraging soul that seeks to make others feel good, and a lending hand. Beauty is a listening ear, and a nice warm hug.

Beauty is my adopted mom, inside and out. It is every perfection and yet every flaw. It is the way that she quietly sips her warm tea in the evening, and how she shares her love. Beauty is her crazy laugh, and her teary eyes at almost everything. Beauty is how she sees the beauty in everything and appreciates it all so much. It is her generous and caring soul, and how she can always make me see things in a different perspective. She’s beautiful.

Even though it is easy to fall under the social influence of what beauty really is, these kids are getting somewhere.We all have beauty. Beautiful to many, means that you must have the perfect body to go along with the“good looks.” Forget all of the social standards and fashion. Forget the diets and the fat-shaming. Ask yourself this, “What does beauty really mean to me?” Because when you look around at all you have and compare the good days to the bad, life is truly beautiful, without a doubt.

Smile and laugh more, love deeply, and take in your surroundings appreciatively. Be grateful and simply be more beautiful.