it was i who originally wrote this in my list of things i would like to have happen in my lifetime. It is strange, the internet, the sense of community that arises with strangers. I notice that there are many others who want the same thing—not particularly unusual really. who would not want to be told they are beautiful.

But as one person who commented wrote, “it only matters when you believe it”. This is the essence of it all. I have been called beautiful , by him and her and this and that in passing. “But from them it was all…meaningless”.

When somebody tells you that you are beautiful, and there is this ephemeral moment where you truly, honestly, and wholly believe it . . . well, the world flips over for one second. and you are happy living upside down. this is one thing i never believed would happen to me in my lifetime. i never thought i could believe what always seems to be flattery and meaningless tomfoolery. but i am lucky. very, lucky.

and i hope everyone gets this feeling sometime