There was this famous saying that goes like this, “only cheap stuff is chased after.” It’s used against ladies who are beautiful and loved. Who are worshiped by men, that’s a way to put it.
That saying has never made sense to me, yet admittedly I often find peace in it. It’s a refuge for those not loved, not noticed. Those whose voice not heard and faces not seen. On the other hand, being beautiful exposes oneself to a stigma to be stupid and not worthy in character. It is sad to see the world allow only one or the other. It is sad to witness the division within a society that claims to thrive for the better.
Despite the aforementioned, Ocean Vuong with his unique view on the matter amazed me.
Because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing. To be gorgeous, you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous – Ocean Vuong
I have witnessed countless sunsets in my life, and with that I never found it anymore special. I never think the sun was disappearing, because scientifically speaking it won’t, anytime soon. I love Ocean Vuong’s writing, because when I lost in his words, I also found new perspectives. To be beautiful is to be seen and hunted.
