Is beauty in the eye of the beholder?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (220068)
Walnut Creek, California
August 29, 2018 1:13pm CST
Can you think of things that you find beautiful that would leave most others unexcited? Of course, I find an attractive (to me) woman beautiful, but what I find beautiful (endless interesting conversation, a good sense of humor, a pretty face without make-up, professional or casual rather than "sexy" clothing) might differ widely from the tastes of others.
As a male, I used to feel I was "supposed" to find cool sports cars "cool" or beautiful, but the truth is, I didn't care that much about cars. Working with boys in a clinical setting, I exaggerate the extent to which I find Mustangs and Camaros "boss."
Among the "odd" things I find beautiful: the sound of mourning doves when they fly; a random piece of wood with cool grain; children carefully watering plants; Bach's sacred music; well-restored Danish Modern vintage loudspeakers, mahogany guitars, the sound of a well-tuned musical instrument, and...older stereo gear in really nice condition.
I've intentionally chosen as my lead picture something that will leave most of my MyLot friends (and enemies) scratching their heads (except, perhaps, for @JolietJake, @FourWalls, and a handful of others). It's the inside of a mint 1971 Sherwood S-7100A stereo receiver. I had forgotten it was at friend's house. I cleaned it up and it looks and sounds great.
Can you think of things that you find beautiful that might make others scratch their heads? I've even gone to classical concerts alone (Bach's Cantatas, Handel's Messiah) , because I have so few friends who like sacred choral music.
29 people like this
24 responses
@akalinus (43332)
• United States
29 Aug 18
@TheHorse I like the stars in places where there is not much light at night. In mountains and deserts, I have gazed at the heavenly spectacle and contemplated the majesty of God and the fact that I am a teensy speck on a remote planet.
I have also seen strange things in the sky.
3 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
29 Aug 18
I think those round hay bales you see in fields are beautiful. I always get so excited when I am driving along and see fields of hay bales.
5 people like this
@LeaPea2417 (37369)
• Toccoa, Georgia
29 Aug 18
@TheHorse Interesting, I never thought of them being made by hand in the past.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Aug 18
I think they're pretty, but they also make me sad. When I was in my 20s, we made haystacks of 50 lb 2-string bales. We didn't need to go to "health clubs" to get "manly muscles." Now, the science/art of making a haystack by hand is almost obsolete.
3 people like this
@lynnief (1203)
• Australia
30 Aug 18
Here they are often encased in coloured vinyl. I heard of a guy who was driving past a place with a lot of them in a paddock and managed to convince his granddaughter, who was with him, that they were marshmallows, and the farm was a marshmallow farm.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160879)
• United States
29 Aug 18
I find many things in nature beautiful. I even look at your picture and find the many colors and the neat symmetry very soothing and attractive. I find beauty in colorful contrasts. I am really with you on wonderful wood grains, though.
3 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83064)
• United States
29 Aug 18
When I started my career in baby nursing I worked in labor and delivery and the birth of each new baby was an excitement beyond anything I can describe. Most people wouldn't find the delivery room exciting
4 people like this
@Marilynda1225 (83064)
• United States
30 Aug 18
@TheHorse seeing new life enter the world is amazing
@Marilynda1225 (83064)
• United States
29 Aug 18
I have to agree that stars in the sky at night makes me excited. When I lived in NY there was so much smog we never saw many stars. Now living in Pennsylvania the sky is clear and dotted with millions of stars. It's breathtaking
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Aug 18
@Marilynda1225 Last night, I saw Mars. The I scanned the rest of the sky. The haze from the fires made it difficult to see anything.
2 people like this
@AKRao24 (27424)
• India
29 Aug 18
I find those 78 RPM gramophones , those spool tape recorders, those polyester 331/3.45, 78 Rpm record players and of course , those wonderful stereo amplifier very beautiful! Yes I have forgotten to mention about those Record changer which are state of art even today! Their mechanism is unmatched...Germans are simply great as far as the mechanical technology is concerned!
2 people like this
@FourWalls (68888)
• United States
29 Aug 18
How ugly! With the tubes that light up and emit heat!! (You know I’m fibbing, it’s gorgeous!)
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Aug 18
This one is solid state. But it still sounds really good. Especially for a unit that only pumps out 17 watts per channel. And its tuner picked up KCSM (our ONLY local jazz station) better than any other tuner in my house. Be still my beating heart!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Aug 18
@akalinus There was a time when I didn't like Mozart. But for some reason I like his music now. Rock bands like Emerson Lake and Palmer and Yes helped me discover the beauty of Bach's organ music. From there, I started listening to his choral music. I also like his concertos.
2 people like this
@Melanie_Marie (1871)
• New Baltimore, Michigan
29 Aug 18
I see beauty everywhere. My mind is always looking for it. Especially in plants, animals, poetry, and art.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
4 Sep 18
@Melanie_Marie Oh, I'll have to look for some Wordsworth! ...Just red the one about Uplifted Eyes. Will seek out more.
1 person likes this
@Melanie_Marie (1871)
• New Baltimore, Michigan
4 Sep 18
@TheHorse I like Rupi Kaur (Milk and Honey, The Sun and her Flowers)...and William Wordsworth, among many others. 
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Aug 18
"Whole language" instruction emphasizes what might be called more "macro" aspects of reading and writing, like story appreciation, story writing, etc. "Phonics" instruction emphasizes the "micro" nuts and bolts more, like letter-sound correspondence, sounding out words, correct spelling, etc.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220068)
• Walnut Creek, California
31 Aug 18
@vandana7 The "take-home" message is that you can help "poor" kids without hurting "non-poor" kids at the Kindergarten level. We were cautious (in the article) not to generalize beyond the Kindergarten level with our findings.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471969)
• Switzerland
30 Aug 18
Surely my husband has no interest in some crafting I make to decorate the house. He surely would find what it's in this photo "beautiful", I do not really care. I love Classical Music, but not at all sacred music except a few piece like the Ave Maria by Shubert. Cantata is Italian and the plural is cantate.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41686)
• United States
29 Aug 18
One thing that comes to mind is when my grown daughter lets her long, black hair just be its natural, slightly curly state. I think it's beautiful, but she always straightens it. I never thought of food as particularity beautiful, but my aunt did when she'd cook her famous candied yams. Each one was perfectly round and lying in the pan with a marvelous corn syrup sauce over each one.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
31 Aug 18
When I was in my twenties I enjoyed classical music although I also listened to moody blues and Black Sabbath to name a couple. It's have gone to the Messiah with you but I'm not familiar with the other one or at least without listening first.
I find beauty in and enjoy viewing nature: clouds, trees and more. I like certain types of architecture and art although I dislike museums.
I may have figured out your pic or at least generally although I wouldn't connect with the beauty of it.
Good topic. Gets one thinking. Right now someone across the street is going threw the notes on some type of horn. They must be just learning as this is the first I've heard them practice. It's not beautiful, but I can still appreciated their resolve to practice.
1 person likes this
@mysimplelot (1347)
• Calcutta, India
31 Aug 18
What the heck it is not beautiful. Beauty is within not outside I believe. So make your mind good and lift your spirits so you will feel beautiful.
1 person likes this
