"People often say that 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,' and I say that the most liberating thing about Beauty is realizing that you are the beholder. This empowers us to find Beauty in places where others have dared not to look, including inside ourselves." Salma Hayek (1966- )
Because you readers and I disagree much of the time -- perhaps perpetually -- I thought I might try to impart something here that might bring us closer together, not divide us, something we might agree on despite our vast political differences.
This column is not normally associated with acquiring and promoting Beauty. But in a recent column I highlighted what I considered beautiful writing. So I thought I would share more, different content that I stumbled upon.
We humans -- may I speak for all of us for a moment? -- are often surprised at finding Beauty. It's all around us but we are, strangely, still surprised when it crosses our path.
I was searching the Internet for a Sarah Brightman song and found it, but acquired another entirely different thread. I'd known of Brightman since she originated the lead, Christine Daaé role in Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. I'd seen her astonishing performance with Michael Crawford as the Phantom in the late 1980s.
During my search I came across, by accident, a YouTube video of Brightman and Andrea Bocelli singing an Italian 'classical crossover' song, "Con Te Partirò" or, as they changed one line in it, "Time To Say Goodbye."
I found this to be one of the most beautiful pieces of music, with the most soaring voices, I've ever heard. Watch and listen as Brightman starts, then Bocelli joins her. See the love with which Bocelli looks at Brightman, with her opening notes, then again as Brightman looks at Bocelli and rests her head on his shoulder while he sings. All is right with the world for me as these two sing their duet -- true Beauty, and brilliant dramatically.
And wait for the last note these two beautiful people hit... soaring... majestic... glorious.
I've decided to play this song every morning when I get up, as a nice springboard for my day. I hope you think it's as beautiful and inspiring as I do and that in some small way, for a brief, shining moment, it brings us all together in agreement.