love your eyes essay

10 Ways to Love Your Eyes

Monday October 11, 2021

Thursday October 14 is World Sight Day, and this year’s global campaign is “Love Your Eyes”.  The International Association for the Prevention of Blindness encourages us to prevent eye disease with a healthy lifestyle, protect our eyes with small daily actions, preserve vision with regular eye exams, and prioritize eye health.  Bilateral Rb Survivor. Abby White , shares 10 ways you can love your eyes every day.

Do you love your eyes?  Do you treasure your ability to see, to easily navigate and interact with the world, to learn, work, connect, and play without visual barriers?  Do you translate your gratitude into action that will protect your eyes and sight for years to come?

I was born with cancer in both eyes – my right eye is now a prosthetic, and the sight in my left eye is now decreasing due to late effects of radiotherapy that saved the eye in infancy.  My limited sight is precious, yet still I push my eye too much at work, exacerbating the severe dry eye resulting from radiotherapy.  I can do more to love my fragile eye.

Protecting our eyes and vision should be a top priority for everyone, whether we have 20/20 vision, or impaired sight like me.  It may not be the easiest or most natural thing we do, but investing in our visual health is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves.  Here are ten ways you can love your eyes more right now.

Prevent Eye Disease with a Healthy Lifestyle

Adopting a healthy lifestyle can prevent many eye diseases, or reduce their effects when the condition is already diagnosed.  A healthy lifestyle includes eating a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding tobacco and secondhand smoke.

A healthy lifestyle is especially important for growing children.  Eye and vision issues in childhood can significantly impact a child’s overall development, education, and quality of life.

1. Eat for Eye Health

A balanced diet helps us reach and maintain a healthy weight, and overall well-being.  Among many physical and mental health benefits, a healthy diet prevents or helps control conditions like diabetes and hypertension that can negatively impact eye health and vision.  A range of micronutrients also help maintain healthy functioning of the eye and vision.

Limit your consumption of sugars and fats in junk food and processed foods as much as possible.  Enjoy them in moderation, but keep a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains.  Here are some of the top micronutrients for your eyes, and the best food sources for each of them.

Functions: Supports health of the cornea (front portion of the eye) and the retina (inner lining of the eye).  Prevents night blindness by helping the eye adapt between bright light and darkness.

Best Sources: retinol

• Dairy products such as milk, yoghurt, and cheese.
• Milk products and spreads fortified with vitamin A.
• Liver and liver products such as liver pâté – this is a particularly rich source of vitamin A, so you may be at risk of having too much vitamin A if you have it more than once a week. Pregnant women should avoid liver and liver products for this reason.

Best Sources: beta-carotene – the body converts beta-carotene into retinol.

• Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale.
• Vegetables with yellow, red, and orange flesh, such as sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin, squash,
• Fruit with orange-yellow flesh, such as apricots, peaches, papaya, and mangoes.

Functions:  Strengthens orbital bones and ocular muscles, and maintains the immune system, reducing risk of eye infection.  Delays age-related diseases such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Best sources:

• Strawberries, blackcurrants, tomatoes.
• Citrus fruit such as oranges, lemon, and grapefruit.
• Green peppers, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes.

Functions: Delays age-related diseases such as cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Best Sources:

• Nuts and seeds
• Green leafy vegetables
• Wheatgerm – found in cereals and cereal products.
• Plant oils – such as rapeseed (vegetable oil), sunflower, soya, corn, and olive oil.

Omega 3 + Omega 6 Fatty Acids

Function: Lowers risk of dry eyes. Supports health of the retina (inner lining of the eye).

• Cold water fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, anchovies, sardines, arctic char and trout.
• Eggs (many are omega-3 enriched).
• Flaxseeds and flaxseed oil.
• Canola oil.
• Fortified foods like some margarines, juices and yogurts.

Lutein + Zeaxanthin

• Dark green leafy vegetables like broccoli, spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce.
• Bright coloured vegetables like sweetcorn, peppers,
• Nuts, particularly pistachios.

Selenium and Zinc

Function: aid absorption and conversion of antioxidants in the body. Supports health of the retina (inner layer of the eye).

Best Sources: Selenium

• Enriched bread, pasta and rice.
• Brazil nuts and walnuts.
• Beef and chicken.
• Tuna and cod.

Best Sources: Zinc

• Beans and legumes
• Bread and fortified cereals

Vitamin Supplements

Eating a balanced diet of fresh foods ensures we take in essential vitamins and minerals.  Unfortunately, processed foods do not contain these nutrients in sufficient quantities.

When you are unable to regularly eat a healthy fresh diet, vitamin supplements may be necessary to help keep you and your child healthy.  They are however, no substitute for a healthy diet.

Consuming too much of an individual vitamin or mineral can cause negative effects.  Monitoring your intake is important to avoid these effects.  Consult your doctor for further advice about taking supplements safely.

When stress is high and routines are disrupted by major life events, appetite may change or demands may limit the time available for organized meals. It becomes especially important to plan in advance to help protect your physical and mental health, including your eyes.

Prepare some healthy meals and snacks in advance of busy times.  If you’re focused on caring for a sick relative or yourself, this is the time to ask relatives and friends to donate healthy home-cooked, store-bought, or restaurant delivered meals to ensure you and your family eat well.

2. Drink Water for Dry Eyes

Drinking plenty of water is also important for eye health, as well as general physical and mental health.  But most adults and children are chronically under-hydrated.  We don’t drink enough, and the good fluids we do drink, we don’t consume steadily enough throughout the day to be of real value.  Many of our favourite drinks also contain caffeine, a diuretic that leaches water from our system.

The eye needs water to stay lubricated, comfortable, and functioning effectively. Dry Eye occurs when the eye doesn’t produce enough tears, or the right kind of tears for lubrication, causing irritation, inflammation, and pain.  Dry eye is a particular risk for people who have received treatment for retinoblastoma.

Aim for at least 2 litres (8 glasses) of water per day.  Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, sports drinks, sodas etc.) are dehydrating, and should not be included in this total. Water, whether plain or flavoured, is best.  If your diet is very high in fruit, vegetables, soups, and smoothies, you may want to adjust your total daily water goal down a little.  Be mindful though that fruit smoothies can be high in calories due to the natural sugars in fruit, and the density of fruit in the smoothie.

Put a glass or bottle of water beside your bed, so you can drink it first thing in the morning, before you get up.  Take a few quiet moments to drink slowly, so your brain has time to make the connection that you are drinking and reap the full benefit.  Pay attention to it, and set the intention to drink regularly throughout the day.  You will be more aware of the need to drink water in the busy hours ahead, and respond.

If you find yourself craving snacks, check in with your body to identify whether you need a drink. Dehydration can feel like hunger pangs, and a glass of water can often settle the discomfort of endless cravings.

3. Love Your Eyes with Exercise

Exercise can help us focus, lose weight and tone our muscles, and it can also help to protect precious eyes.  Over the last decade, several studies have found a link between regular exercise and reduced risk of common eye diseases like cataracts, wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma.

Cataract is a clouding of the lens that focuses light into the retina.  Blurring vision worsens over time, like looking through a dirty window.  Without surgery, cataract can cause serious vision loss.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula, part of the retina that controls central vision and enables the eye to see clearly.  Central vision is vital for activities such as reading, driving, focusing on objects, and recognizing faces.  AMD is a progressive condition, and treatment options are limited.

Glaucoma causes a build-up of fluid and increased pressure in the eye that damages the optic nerve , leading to impaired vision and potential blindness.

Cardiovascular exercise specifically has been shown to lower intraocular pressure, and increase blood flow to the optic nerve and retina.  Exercise can also prevent or help control other medical conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, which have vision-threatening complications.

Research also indicates an alarming rise in myopia (near-sightedness) among children, requiring corrective glasses.  The trend suggest that almost 50% of the global population will be neart-sighted by 2050.  Outdoor play is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of your children needing prescription glasses, and also to slow the increasing rate of myopia in children .

Playing in natural sunlight helps children use their eyes in different ways, focusing at distance rather than on objects close up such as a screen, art project, book or game.  Experts recommend 1-2 hours of outdoor play per day in natural sunlight to support eye health, visual development, and overall health.

Exercising for your eyes doesn’t require a great investment of time or resources.  A brisk 30-minute walk will get your blood flowing.  Do this five days a week, and you’ll easily reach the 150 minutes of weekly exercise recommended by the World Health Organization.

How about cycling, swimming, running, dancing.  Even active gardening or housework is quality exercise.  So put on your favourite music or an engaging book and clean those cobwebs away, knowing you’re looking after yourself in the process.

Make exercise a priority, for your eyes and your overall wellbeing.  Many people say they don’t have time to exercise, but taking care of our eyes, body and mind should be one of our top priorities every day.  Schedule time for regular daily exercise that you will enjoy.  Find the best activity and the best time for your schedule, and commit to exercising at least 3 to 5 times each week.

4. Stop Smoking for Your Sight

The negative health impacts of smoking tobacco are well documented .  Cancer, heart and lung disease, are widely recognized effects, but smoking damages tissues throughout the body, including the eyes.  Smokers are at significantly increased risk for serious vision loss or blindness .

Smoking can worsen the effects of conditions like diabetic retinopathy , Graves’ disease , and dry eye, and increases risk of developing sight-threatening conditions.   Two of the most common causes of blindness, cataract and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), occur more frequently in people who have a history of smoking.  Smokers are twice as likely to develop AMD, compared with non-smokers, and they are more likely to develop it at a younger age.

Smoking also alters the body’s ability to extract or absorb micronutrients from food.  So a smoker or passive smoker will likely have lower amounts of the vitamins and minerals needed to maintain overall eye and general health.

Smoking risks your baby’s vision too.  Babies born to women who smoke during pregnancy are more likely to:

• Be born premature , which increases risk for retinopathy of prematurity , a serious eye condition that can cause permanent blindness or loss of vision.
• Develop bacterial meningitis in childhood . Meningitis is a swelling of tissues around the brain that can cause eye infections and other vision-threatening complications.

Secondhand smoke also threatens children’s vision.  Research suggests children’s eyes can show passive smoking damage by 6 years old .

Avoiding tobacco smoke of all kinds, including secondhand smoke, is one of the best ways to protect your eyes and your overall health.  If you are already smoking, quitting is one of the best ways to invest in your long-term health, and the health of your loves ones around you.

♥ Quit Smoking resources from the American Cancer Society

♥ Quit Smoking resources from Cancer Research UK

Protect Your Peepers

A healthy lifestyle can help prevent some eye diseases, and maintain overall good health, but it also important to protect our eyes.  Sunlight, infection, and prolonged exposure to screens all have a cumulative effect, and accidents can unexpectedly damage the eye.  Take daily steps to minimize the impacts and love your eyes.

5. Take Care of Your Eye Make-Up Hygiene

If you wear make-up, it’s vital to maintain good hygiene and safety.  Poorly maintained products, or incorrect use of eye cosmetics can cause problems such as drying out the ocular surface and allergic reactions. Give your eyes a break from cosmetics whenever they feel or look irritated, and always seek advice from an eye care professional.  Here are some key tips for make-up safety and hygiene.

• Choose the right products:
• Avoid powder eyeshadow that is more likely to get into your eye and cause irritation. Instead use cream eyeshadow, and carefully clean your applicators regularly.
• Avoid pencil eyeliners as they can scrape the rim of the eye, leading to infection.  Opt instead for gentle liquid eyeliners.
• Avoid fiber lash mascara as the tiny fibers can irritate eyes.
• Never use in-store testers as they increase the risk of infection, and never share make-up for the same reason, even with your sister or best friend.  Bacteria can be transferred unseen on brushes and applicators, and on the product itself.
• Don’t use eye make-up beyond the expiry date as preservatives become less effective and bacteria may begin to grow.  This is especially important for products with a creamy formula, such as concealer, mascara, and eyeshadow.
• Clean your make-up brushes regularly and thoroughly: many products are available, but a simple, low-cost approach is to sanitize your brushes with 99% isopropyl alcohol and wipe them clean with a paper towel.
• Put contact lenses in before applying make-up , to ensure make-up particles do not contaminate your tear film – this increases risk of infection.
• Don’t apply make-up inside the lash line: applying make-up along the inner eyelid, or “waterline” blocks the oil glands that secrete fluid to protect the cornea – the clear front part of the eye. You also risk introducing bacteria directly into the eye. 
• Never apply make-up while moving, whether walking, as a passenger in a vehicle, or when driving – even when sitting in traffic.  The risk of accidental trauma to the eye is high, and when driving, the risk of distraction causing injury to others is also high.
• Remove all make-up before going to sleep , especially eye make-up. Make-up can become transferred to your eyes while you sleep, causing irritation and infection.
• Remove contact lenses before removing your make-up , to avoid damaging the lens and causing unnecessary discomfort.

6. Wear Sunglasses

The sun’s intense ultraviolet rays can damage the eyes over time, leading to conditions like cataract and glaucoma. To shield your eyes from this harmful solar radiation, wear sunglasses providing 100% UVA and UVB protection, and/or a broad brimmed hat.  Don’t be guided only by the sun’s brightness, or by how stylish the sun protection looks with your outfit.   Here are some points to consider:

• Everyone’s eyes need sun protection , regardless of age. Children are most at risk as they spend more time outside but few wear sunglasses, and the damaging effects of sun exposure are cumulative.
• UV rays can penetrate through clouds , and cloud can also create glare, increasing eyestrain. So our eyes need sun protection on cloudy days just as much as when the sky is clear.
• UV rays can reflect off snow, sand and water , so sunglasses are especially important in these environments.
• Larger lenses and wrap-around glasses offer greater protection than smaller lenses and open frames.
• Not all sunglasses give 100% UVA and UVB protection – check the label carefully before you buy, and ask the seller if you are unsure.
• Ask your eye care professional for advice If you are unsure about what sunglasses are right for you, or when you should wear them to protect your eyes.

Invest in a good pair of sunglasses, keep them handy in your bag, or with your front door keys, and wear them with pride every day.  They will help protect your eyes from the strain and harmful effects of UV light, and reduce your risk for vision-damaging conditions later in life.

7. Avoid Eye Injuries

Eye injuries are a major cause of preventable sight loss around the world, especially among children.  Protecting sight is especially important when vision has already been lost to retinoblastoma or another eye condition.

There are many simple things you can do to prevent eye injury, and protect your children’s eyes, and your own.  Follow these practical tips to protect eyes and sight while enjoying everyday and festive activities.

Play Safety

Buy toys that are appropriate for your child’s age and developmental level.  Avoid toys like darts, play swards and pellet guns as these have a high risk of eye injury. Always supervise children using potentially dangerous toys and ensure they know how to use them safely.

Teach children how to handle sharp implements safely, For example, holding scissors by the handle, point downwards, when walking, and passing them to other people with the handle forward,   Insist children never run while holding scissors, pencils, cutlery or other sharp items and explain to them why this is important.

Sports Safety

Insist everyone wears protective sports glasses or safety glasses when playing sports such as squash, tennis and cricket, or when paint-balling.

Wear protective helmets and face guards for activities like skateboarding, rollerblading and cycling. Brain injury may significantly impair vision, and has other potentially devastating effects.

When a child already has vision loss, such as from retinoblastoma, parents often struggle to strike a balance between letting the child participate in games and sport as any other child, and being careful to protect remaining vision. Games and sports help children develop coordination and confidence. Some people with reduced vision prefer to avoid contact sports, while others thrive in these activities.

With your child’s agreement and involvement, tell coaches and team members about their low vision, so the community can help take precautions while actively engaging your child.

Safety at Home

when using cleaning products, ensure the spray nozzle is directed away from your face and away from your children.   Ensure children are not running around in your immediate area while you use spray cleaners.

Do not mix ammonia and chlorine.  Reactive poisonous vapours severely irritate eyes and can be potentially fatal to children and adults.

Do not touch your eyes or your child’s eyes while using cleaning fluids of any kind.  Always wash your hands thoroughly first.

Garden Safety

Keep children out of the garden when mowing or using a strimmer, and wear goggles or safety glasses.  Stones, twigs and other small debris can be thrown up by the rotar blades, causing severe eye injuries.  The nylon thread In power strimmers can also break and whip the eye.   While these accidents are rare, they are often devastating, so prevention is vital.

Trim low hanging branches and brambles to prevent children and adults running into them.

When using pesticides and other chemicals, ensure the spray nozzle is directed away from your face and away from your children.  Ensure children do not run into your immediate area while you use these sprays.

When working with chemicals, power tools or other potentially dangerous materials, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from splashes, fumes, sparks, flying fragments and dust.  Either keep your children well away, or insist they also wear eye protecton when near your workspace.

Firework Safety

All fireworks can be dangerous and even lethal when incorrectly used.  Avoid injury by attending organised community displays.  However, if you hold your own display, obtain safety advice first and thoroughly read all instructions to minimise your risk, and risk to others.

Keep everyone well back before lighting fireworks. Instructions will indicate a safe distance for individual fireworks.  Always wear eye protection, and never lean over the firework when lighting it.  Never go back to a firework once the fuse has been lit, and do not allow anyone else to do this.

Never allow children to play with or light fireworks, sparklers or matches.  Always supervise children holding sparklers, and show them how to hold the sparkler safely.  Sparklers can create temperatures of over 1,800°F – hot enough to melt gold – and must be handled with great care.

8. Know How to Treat Eye Injuries

The eye is a very delicate organ, and requires special care.  Accidents can happen unexpectedly, even when we diligently take precautions to prevent them.  Be prepared for the unexpected to reduce the risk of permanent vision damage – learn how to treat eye injuries correctly and confidently, and always seek prompt professional medical care.

General Guidance

Don’t panic.  Stay calm, and help to keep the patient calm – they will be more likely to follow your lead when you are calm.

Don’t rub the eye.  This is a natural response, but the pressure can worsen an injury.  Children, and even adults, may need a lot of support to keep their hands away from their face.

Don’t delay medical attention.  Seemingly minor eye injuries can quickly worsen, causing serious, possibly irreversible loss of vision.

Locate your nearest emergency eye care facility in advance, so you know where to go if you need to. Seeking care from a local eye care professional is usually better than going to the general emergency centre. Emergency facilities are not well equipped to manage eye care, and will usually refer on.

Avoid aspirin.  This medication thins the blood and can worsen bleeding in the eye.

Don’t use ointments or medicated drops without seeking medical advice.  Open containers may not be sterile, risking infection.  Certain medications may also reduce the doctor’s ability to thoroughly examine the eye.

Debris in the Eye

Encourage your child to blink repeatedly to help remove the debris.  If this does not work, gently pull the upper lid down onto the lower lid, and ask your child to blink several times. The lower eyelashes may sweep the debris away from the upper eyelid.  If this too does not work, keep the eye closed and seek medical help.

A “black eye” is caused by bleeding under the skin around the eye.  The bruising will initially appaer purple-blue and fade over several days.

Although most black-eye injuries are minor, extensive bruising can be a sign of serious injury, including a fractured skull.  Bleeding within the eye is also serious, and may potentially damage vision permanently.

As soon as possible after the injury, apply a cold pack to the eye area for about 15 minutes.  This will help to reduce swelling and bruising.  A bag of ice or frozen vegetables wrapped in a cloth will do.  Use gentle pressure, but do not press directly on the eye.

Seek immediate medical care if the patient has blurred or double vision, bleeding in the white or coloured part of the eye (iris) or from their nose, or uncontrolled pain.

Chemical Splashes and Burns

Always seek immediate medical care.  If possible, take the bottle containing the chemical to the hospital as this will help the doctors provide appropriate care.  While you are waiting for emergency help, do not bandage the eye or use any other covering.

Gently open the eyelids as wide as possible with your fingers.  Flush the eye with clean water for at least fifteen minutes.  Encourage the patient to roll their eye around as much as possible as this will help to thoroughly wash it.

Physical Trauma to the Eye

Seek immediate medical care.  Don’t rinse the eye, apply pressure or try to remove any foreign objects. This may cause further injury.

Protect the eye from pressure by taping a shield over the bones surrounding it.  If you do not have an eye shield, use a household object like a paper plate or the bottom of a foam cup.  If nothing is available, cup your clean hands over the injured eye until you reach specialist medical care.

9. Reduce Digital Eye Strain

Screens are now ubiquitous in our lives, but it’s important we reduce our daily screen time, and take regular breaks to avoid Computer Vision Syndrome .  Symptoms include eyestrain, headache, blurred vision, dry eyes, and neck and shoulder pain.

Excessive gadget use and close work have shown to increase the risk for myopia (nearsightedness), particularly in children. So, it is especially important to raise awareness of good visual hygiene among children, to work with them to reduce their screen time as much as possible, and give them engaging alternatives that promote far focus use of their eyes, such as imaginative and exploratory outdoor play, and sport.

To work efficiently, and minimize the symptoms:

• Take regular breaks to rest and refocus your eyes.
• Practice the 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes spent using a screen, focus on something 20 feet away for 20 seconds.
• Create an ergonomic environment to maintain good posture and reduce musculoskeletal symptoms. Pay attention to the position of your screen in relation to your seating so you can work in comfort without straining your eyes or you neck and back.
• Adjust screen brightness, contrast and text size settings to view content more clearly and comfortably, and reduce eyestrain.
• Carefully select and position lighting to reduce glare on the screen.
• Reduce the symptoms of dry eye by blinking more often and using supplemental lubricating drops if needed.
• Use exercises to reduce eyestrain . Try these exercises for eyestrain , or the exercises demonstrated in this video, which also covers the points avoic.

Preserve Your Vision

When was the last time you had your eyes, or your children’s eyes, checked? 

10. Book an Eye Exam

Plan for regular vision screening and comprehensive eye examination, and understand the difference between them.

A vision screening is a relatively short process that can indicate a vision problem or potential problem that needs further investigation by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. A vision screening cannot diagnose specific conditions.

A comprehensive eye exam involves your eye care professional taking a detailed medical and family history to understand your risk factors, followed by checking your vision, eye power, and eye health.  Dilating eye drops will be used to ensure the professional has a clear view of your eye.

Comprehensive eye exams aren’t just about eye health and vision.  The eye care professional can identify early signs of potentially serious problems hiding deep in the body. Here are 20 health problems a comprehensive eye exam can catch. 

Ensure that eye examinations are a part of your routine medical examination, and that of your loved ones.  Everyone should have regular eye exams throughout life.  Due to changes in lifestyle and increase in near work among today’s children, it is important for children and teenagers to also have regular routine eye exams.  Leading eye care organizations recommend the following.

Children should have regular eye exams and vision screening from birth .

If you have an existing eye condition, it is important to:

• Attend all eye exams as advised by your eye care professional.
• Establish a regular schedule for eye examination if this is not clear.
• Request a comprehensive eye exam whenever you have concerns about your eye health or vision.

If an adult’s eyes are healthy, plan for:

• Every 2 years to age 40.
• Annually after age 40.
• Once in the 20s.
• Twice in the 30s.
• Every 2 years after age 40.
• Annually after age 65.

Plan for an annual eye exam if you:

• Have a family history of any sight threatening conditions.
• Have diabetes or hypertension, or a family history of these conditions.
• Have a history of chronic smoking.
• Already wear spectacles.

Some red flags for an emergency eye exam include (but are not limited to):

• Seeing floaters or flashes of light,
• Sudden blurring or loss of vision.
• A blurry spot in your central vision.
• Seeing coloured rings around light.
• Straight lines appear wavy.
• A red, inflamed eye.

12 signs your child may have an eye condition needing an urgent eye exam:

• A white glow in the pupil of the eye.
• Eye turning outwards or inwards.
• Different coloured irises.
• Misshapen pupil.
• Red, painful, swollen eye.
• Watery, itching eyes.
• Visual complaints such as squinting, squeezing, or constant rubbing of eyes.
• Moving closer to the television, or bringing objects closer to see them.
• Holding the head in an awkward position to see objects.
• Clumsiness; walking into things, particularly on one side.
• Complaints of headache, eyestrain or seeing double.
• Reluctance to walk up, or particularly down, stairs.

Which two of these four children has cancer? Discover the answer!   If you are concerned about your child’s eyes or vision, always seek a thorough eye exam from an eye care specialist experienced in examining young children’s eyes.

Prioritize Your Eyes

We hope these tips inspire you to take action to love your eyes today and every day.  To celebrate World Sight Day this year, why not pledge to have a sight test!  The IAPB aims to inspire one million people to have their eyes tested.  Pledge to #LoveYourEyes today, to help them towards the million target.

About the Author

Abby’s father was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma in Kenya in 1946. Abby was also born with cancer in both eyes. She has an artificial eye and limited vision in her left eye that is now failing due to late effects of radiotherapy in infancy.

Abby studied geography at university, with emphasis on development in sub-Saharan Africa. She co-founded WE C Hope with Brenda Gallie, responding to the needs of one child and the desire to help many in developing countries.  After receiving many requests for help from American families and adult survivors, she co-founded the US chapter to bring hope and encourage action across the country.

Abby enjoys listening to audio books, creative writing, open water swimming and long country walks.

Read the story of how WE C Hope began.

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Excellent advice on how to look after our eyes. You need to lead a healthy lifestyle to take care of your eyes, which of course involves visiting an ophthalmologist often to make sure your eyes are in good shape.

Aris Vision CDMX https://arisvisionmexico.com/

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On World Sight Day, remember to love your eyes!

News | October 14, 2021

Dr. Danny Haddad, Inclusive Eye Health Director of CBM Global, reflects on this year’s theme for World Sight Day. 

Love your eyes!

This year’s theme for World Sight Day is Love Your Eyes! At first, that seems like an obvious statement, who doesn’t love their eyes? In a 2016 published study, respondents ranked losing vision as equal to or worse than losing hearing, memory, speech, or a limb. Unfortunately, for over a billion people in the world, it isn’t as obvious or as natural as we might think, as they suffer from vision loss and have no access to care. But even for us, who have easy access to eye care, how well do we care?

For this World Sight Day, the goal is to have 1 million people pledge to have their eyes tested. And it is important that we do. Nearly everyone on the planet will experience an eye health issue in their lifetime. With the continuing global population growth and aging of our population, we will be seeing an increase in the number of people living with vision loss from 1.1 billion to 1.7 billion in 2050.

Especially in our current environment, with our lifestyle changes, like a healthy diet, now even less exercise while working from home, more dependence on digital devices, increased screen time for our children, etc. we become more at risk for vision loss ourselves. Therefore, following the 4 P’s: Prevent, Protect, Preserve and Prioritise, so pledge  here  yourself to test or take care of your eyes, as everyone counts.

For CBM Global Disability Inclusion, the statement ‘everyone counts’ is at the core of what we do. Our Inclusive Eye Health programs seek to ensure we create access to eye health for everyone, removing the physical and figurative barriers that are in place. We therefore also focus on a continuum of care, ensuring that those that have irreparable vision loss, get the support that they need. As we also know that persons living with vision loss, or their family members, suffer from depression and are therefore developing links with our mental health programs.

This World Sight Day is therefore a good moment to love our eyes, but also to realise we need to make an effort there ourselves and not forget that this is not as natural as we might think it is.

Public Attitudes About Eye and Vision Health. Scott, AW; Bressler, NM; et. al.

JAMA Ophthalmol. 2016;134(10):1111-1118.

GBD 2019 Blindness and Vision Impairment Collaborators; Vision Loss Expert Group of the Global Burden of Disease Study. Trends in prevalence of blindness and distance and near vision impairment over 30 years: an analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. Lancet Glob Health. 2021 Feb;9(2):e130-e143.

Main Image: Jasrani holding her hands in prayer, with an eye patch over her right eye, after cataract surgery at Biratnagar Eye Hospital in Nepal. ©CBM

https://cbm-global.org/news/love-your-eyes

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Medindia » News » Health Watch » World Sight Day 2022: Love Your Eyes

World Sight Day 2022: Love Your Eyes

• About 2.2 billion people, or 25% of the global population, are visually impaired
• World Sight Day will be celebrated on Thursday, October 13, 2022
• Every year, the world commemorates World Sight Day as a unique day to raise awareness on the global issue of eye health

Theme of World Sight Day 2022

Awareness Programs on World Sight Day

History of World Sight Day

Primary Objectives of World Sight Day

• To educate the public about issues related to blindness and visual impairment.
• To persuade governments, particularly health ministers, to participate and contribute funds to programmes for preventing blindness.
• To encourage participation in the vision programme and events.
• World Sight Day is an annual event to raise awareness of the importance of good eye care around the globe. - (https://www.sightsavers.org/world-sight-day/)
• Awareness Days Events Calendar - (https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-sight-day-2022/)
• 'Love Your Eyes' Confirmed as the Theme for World Sight Day 2022 - (https://eyewire.news/news/love-your-eyes-confirmed-as-the-theme-for-world-sight-day-2022)

Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:

Dr. Trupti Shirole. (2022, October 08). World Sight Day 2022: Love Your Eyes . Medindia. Retrieved on Apr 16, 2024 from https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/world-sight-day-2022-love-your-eyes-208826-1.htm.

Dr. Trupti Shirole. "World Sight Day 2022: Love Your Eyes". Medindia . Apr 16, 2024. <https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/world-sight-day-2022-love-your-eyes-208826-1.htm>.

Dr. Trupti Shirole. "World Sight Day 2022: Love Your Eyes". Medindia. https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/world-sight-day-2022-love-your-eyes-208826-1.htm. (accessed Apr 16, 2024).

Dr. Trupti Shirole. 2022. World Sight Day 2022: Love Your Eyes . Medindia, viewed Apr 16, 2024, https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/world-sight-day-2022-love-your-eyes-208826-1.htm.

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Modern Love

To Fall in Love With Anyone, Do This

By Mandy Len Catron

• Jan. 9, 2015

More than 20 years ago, the psychologist Arthur Aron succeeded in making two strangers fall in love in his laboratory. Last summer, I applied his technique in my own life, which is how I found myself standing on a bridge at midnight, staring into a man’s eyes for exactly four minutes.

Let me explain. Earlier in the evening, that man had said: “I suspect, given a few commonalities, you could fall in love with anyone. If so, how do you choose someone?”

He was a university acquaintance I occasionally ran into at the climbing gym and had thought, “What if?” I had gotten a glimpse into his days on Instagram. But this was the first time we had hung out one-on-one.

“Actually, psychologists have tried making people fall in love,” I said, remembering Dr. Aron’s study . “It’s fascinating. I’ve always wanted to try it.”

[ Sign up for Love Letter, our weekly email . And catch up on all things Modern Love .]

I first read about the study when I was in the midst of a breakup. Each time I thought of leaving, my heart overruled my brain. I felt stuck. So, like a good academic, I turned to science, hoping there was a way to love smarter.

I explained the study to my university acquaintance. A heterosexual man and woman enter the lab through separate doors. They sit face to face and answer a series of increasingly personal questions. Then they stare silently into each other’s eyes for four minutes. The most tantalizing detail: Six months later, two participants were married. They invited the entire lab to the ceremony.

“Let’s try it,” he said.

Let me acknowledge the ways our experiment already fails to line up with the study. First, we were in a bar, not a lab. Second, we weren’t strangers. Not only that, but I see now that one neither suggests nor agrees to try an experiment designed to create romantic love if one isn’t open to this happening.

I Googled Dr. Aron’s questions; there are 36 . We spent the next two hours passing my iPhone across the table, alternately posing each question.

They began innocuously: “Would you like to be famous? In what way?” And “When did you last sing to yourself? To someone else?”

But they quickly became probing.

In response to the prompt, “Name three things you and your partner appear to have in common,” he looked at me and said, “I think we’re both interested in each other.”

I grinned and gulped my beer as he listed two more commonalities I then promptly forgot. We exchanged stories about the last time we each cried, and confessed the one thing we’d like to ask a fortuneteller. We explained our relationships with our mothers.

The questions reminded me of the infamous boiling frog experiment in which the frog doesn’t feel the water getting hotter until it’s too late. With us, because the level of vulnerability increased gradually, I didn’t notice we had entered intimate territory until we were already there, a process that can typically take weeks or months.

I liked learning about myself through my answers, but I liked learning things about him even more. The bar, which was empty when we arrived, had filled up by the time we paused for a bathroom break.

I sat alone at our table, aware of my surroundings for the first time in an hour, and wondered if anyone had been listening to our conversation. If they had, I hadn’t noticed. And I didn’t notice as the crowd thinned and the night got late.

We all have a narrative of ourselves that we offer up to strangers and acquaintances, but Dr. Aron’s questions make it impossible to rely on that narrative. Ours was the kind of accelerated intimacy I remembered from summer camp, staying up all night with a new friend, exchanging the details of our short lives. At 13, away from home for the first time, it felt natural to get to know someone quickly. But rarely does adult life present us with such circumstances.

The moments I found most uncomfortable were not when I had to make confessions about myself, but had to venture opinions about my partner. For example: “Alternate sharing something you consider a positive characteristic of your partner, a total of five items” (Question 22), and “Tell your partner what you like about them; be very honest this time saying things you might not say to someone you’ve just met” (Question 28).

Much of Dr. Aron’s research focuses on creating interpersonal closeness. In particular, several studies investigate the ways we incorporate others into our sense of self. It’s easy to see how the questions encourage what they call “self-expansion.” Saying things like, “I like your voice, your taste in beer, the way all your friends seem to admire you,” makes certain positive qualities belonging to one person explicitly valuable to the other.

It’s astounding, really, to hear what someone admires in you. I don’t know why we don’t go around thoughtfully complimenting one another all the time.

We finished at midnight, taking far longer than the 90 minutes for the original study. Looking around the bar, I felt as if I had just woken up. “That wasn’t so bad,” I said. “Definitely less uncomfortable than the staring into each other’s eyes part would be.”

He hesitated and asked. “Do you think we should do that, too?”

“Here?” I looked around the bar. It seemed too weird, too public.

“We could stand on the bridge,” he said, turning toward the window.

The night was warm and I was wide-awake. We walked to the highest point, then turned to face each other. I fumbled with my phone as I set the timer.

Modern Love College Essay Contest

We invited college students nationwide to open their hearts and laptops and write an essay that tells the truth about what love is like for them today.

“O.K.,” I said, inhaling sharply.

“O.K.,” he said, smiling.

I’ve skied steep slopes and hung from a rock face by a short length of rope, but staring into someone’s eyes for four silent minutes was one of the more thrilling and terrifying experiences of my life. I spent the first couple of minutes just trying to breathe properly. There was a lot of nervous smiling until, eventually, we settled in.

I know the eyes are the windows to the soul or whatever, but the real crux of the moment was not just that I was really seeing someone, but that I was seeing someone really seeing me. Once I embraced the terror of this realization and gave it time to subside, I arrived somewhere unexpected.

I felt brave, and in a state of wonder. Part of that wonder was at my own vulnerability and part was the weird kind of wonder you get from saying a word over and over until it loses its meaning and becomes what it actually is: an assemblage of sounds.

So it was with the eye, which is not a window to anything but rather a clump of very useful cells. The sentiment associated with the eye fell away and I was struck by its astounding biological reality: the spherical nature of the eyeball, the visible musculature of the iris and the smooth wet glass of the cornea. It was strange and exquisite.

When the timer buzzed, I was surprised — and a little relieved. But I also felt a sense of loss. Already I was beginning to see our evening through the surreal and unreliable lens of retrospect.

Most of us think about love as something that happens to us. We fall. We get crushed.

But what I like about this study is how it assumes that love is an action. It assumes that what matters to my partner matters to me because we have at least three things in common, because we have close relationships with our mothers, and because he let me look at him.

I wondered what would come of our interaction. If nothing else, I thought it would make a good story. But I see now that the story isn’t about us; it’s about what it means to bother to know someone, which is really a story about what it means to be known.

It’s true you can’t choose who loves you, although I’ve spent years hoping otherwise, and you can’t create romantic feelings based on convenience alone. Science tells us biology matters; our pheromones and hormones do a lot of work behind the scenes.

But despite all this, I’ve begun to think love is a more pliable thing than we make it out to be. Arthur Aron’s study taught me that it’s possible — simple, even — to generate trust and intimacy, the feelings love needs to thrive.

You’re probably wondering if he and I fell in love. Well, we did. Although it’s hard to credit the study entirely (it may have happened anyway), the study did give us a way into a relationship that feels deliberate. We spent weeks in the intimate space we created that night, waiting to see what it could become.

Love didn’t happen to us. We’re in love because we each made the choice to be.

Mandy Len Catron teaches writing at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and is working on a book about the dangers of love stories.

Sign up for Love Letter , our new weekly newsletter. Watch the trailer for the Modern Love TV show , coming to Amazon Prime Video on Oct. 18; read past Modern Love columns and Tiny Love Stories ; listen to the Modern Love Podcast on iTunes or Google Play Music ; check out the updated anthology “ Modern Love: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption ”; follow Modern Love on Facebook .

Tales About Love to Nourish Your Soul

The Cost of the American Dream:   A physical relationship is nearly impossible  for a hard-working Bangladeshi taxi driver and his wife, who longed for each other.

Who Is Trusted to Have a Child?:  A married gay man and emergency pediatrician wrestle with expectations of having a “traditional” family life .

A Fetish for a Second Skin: As a gay Korean American, he yearned for the privilege of being heterosexual or white. So he began wearing latex , a new skin.

The Slap That Changed Everything: She kept trying to laugh off and normalize sexual aggression by men. Eventually, it all caught up to her .

Seeking a Lover, Not a Nurse: Disability shouldn’t make someone undesirable  or impractical as a romantic partner.

Two Kisses We Never Talked About: Sometimes you really have to show up for your ex. This was one of those times .

Essay on Importance of Eyes

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Eyes in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Eyes

The gift of vision.

Eyes are a crucial part of our body. They help us see and perceive the world. Without eyes, we could not witness the beauty of nature, read books, or recognize our loved ones.

The Eye: A Complex Organ

Eyes are not just simple organs. They are highly complex, allowing us to see in different light conditions, focus on objects near and far, and perceive colors.

Protecting Our Eyes

It’s essential to take care of our eyes. Regular check-ups, wearing sunglasses, and a healthy diet can help maintain good eye health. Remember, our eyes are irreplaceable.

250 Words Essay on Importance of Eyes

The miraculous organ: eyes.

The human eye, a biological marvel, plays an indispensable role in our lives. It not only facilitates vision but also serves as a medium of non-verbal communication, contributing to our overall perception of the world.

Windows to the World

The primary function of eyes is to provide vision. They allow us to perceive and interpret the shapes, colors, and dimensions of objects in our surroundings. These visual cues then guide our physical movements and reactions, enabling us to navigate through the world.

The Emotional Communicator

Eyes also act as an emotional barometer, reflecting our innermost feelings. They reveal joy, sadness, surprise, and a range of other emotions without the need for words. This non-verbal communication is critical in forming interpersonal relationships and understanding others’ emotional states.

Guardians of Health

Moreover, eyes can indicate our overall health. Certain eye conditions like jaundice or retinal issues can signal underlying health problems, such as liver disease or diabetes. Regular eye check-ups can thus help in early detection and treatment of these conditions.

Preserving the Gift of Sight

Given their importance, it is paramount to take care of our eyes. Regular eye examinations, a balanced diet, and protective measures like wearing sunglasses can help maintain eye health. Additionally, awareness about eye donation can help give the gift of sight to someone in need.

In conclusion, the eyes are not just sensory organs, but they are also a mirror to our emotions and health. They are our connection to the world and the people around us. Therefore, understanding and appreciating their importance is integral to our well-being.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Eyes

The intrinsic value of vision.

The human eye, an organ of profound complexity, is our window to the world. It is through these lenses that we perceive our surroundings, communicate, and navigate our lives. The importance of eyes is immeasurable, as they play a pivotal role in our daily existence and overall quality of life.

Perception and Interpretation

The eyes are not merely perceptive organs but are a sophisticated system that interprets light into images. This process, known as visual perception, is a crucial aspect of how we understand and interact with our environment. Our eyes detect light, color, and movement, and relay this information to the brain, which translates it into recognizable images. This intricate process allows us to perceive depth, distinguish colors, and recognize faces, contributing significantly to our cognitive abilities.

The Eyes as a Medium of Communication

Eyes are often referred to as the ‘windows to the soul’ because they are capable of expressing a range of emotions. They are instrumental in non-verbal communication, revealing our thoughts and feelings without uttering a single word. The ability to maintain eye contact can convey confidence, sincerity, or empathy, while avoiding eye contact can indicate discomfort or deceit. This silent language of the eyes is universally understood and forms an integral part of human interaction.

Impact on Learning and Development

For students, the eyes are essential tools for learning. Reading, writing, and even the use of technology all require good vision. Furthermore, our eyes contribute to our spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination, which are crucial for physical activities and sports. Poor vision can hinder academic performance and limit opportunities, emphasizing the importance of regular eye examinations and proper eye care.

Health Indicators

The eyes can also act as indicators of overall health. Certain systemic diseases, such as diabetes or hypertension, can manifest symptoms in the eyes. Regular eye check-ups can help detect these conditions early, enabling timely treatment and potentially preventing further complications.

The Importance of Eye Care

Given the vital role that eyes play, it is crucial to prioritize eye care. This includes regular eye check-ups, using protective eyewear, maintaining a healthy diet, and taking breaks from screens to prevent eye strain. Neglecting eye health can lead to various conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, or age-related macular degeneration, which can significantly impair vision and quality of life.

In conclusion, our eyes are far more than just organs of sight. They are instruments of perception, communication, learning, and health monitoring. The importance of eyes and vision cannot be overstated, and taking care of them is an investment in our overall well-being. As the adage goes, the eyes are indeed the mirror of the soul, reflecting not just our emotions but our overall health and the world around us.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Eye Donation Is the Best Donation
• Essay on Eye Donation
• Essay on Eyes

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

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Ethics and Morality

How the eyes express emotions and bodily states, windows of the soul, or perhaps curtains of the soul, or maybe evil weapons..

Posted July 23, 2022 | Reviewed by Vanessa Lancaster

• The eyes express all the emotions and states of mind and body.
• Eyes soften in love, harden with anger, widen in fear, narrow in suspicion, roll in exasperation, glaze with boredom, and weep in sadness.
• Experimental research with microphotography examining pupil dilation, blinking, and tearing might indicate if someone is lying.

The eyes are “the windows of the soul,” we are told. They may also be curtains, hiding the soul and the self. Belief in the evil eye is widespread.

The Eye and the I

Through windows, we can see the self. Even Hegel, in his Aesthetics (1835), trusted the window theory of the soul, writing that "in the eye, the soul is concentrated"; thus, "through the eyes, we look into a man's soul." And: "a man's glance is what is most full of his soul, the concentration of his inmost personality and feeling" (1975:153, 434, 732). In this, eyes have unique importance. No other organs of the body have such power.

Eyes flash and blaze, sparkle and twinkle, stare, glare and glower, glance, peer, leer and ogle, and goggle. There are flirtatious eyes, laughing eyes, bedroom eyes, and occasionally blank, expressionless, dead eyes, which we might avoid.

The eyes express all the emotions and states of mind and body. They soften in love, harden with anger , widen in fear and horror, narrow in suspicion, roll in exasperation, glaze with boredom , weep in sadness or joy. The “far-away look in her eyes,” the cold stare of contempt, the hot glare of anger, the cheer-up wink, the come-hither glance, the guilty look. Eye language is as eloquent as verbal language, but if the two conflict, believe the eye language, remembering that it too can lie.

In his amusing The Art of Love (Bk 1:573-4), Ovid pioneered eye language:

Let your eyes gaze into hers, let the gazing be a confession Often the silent glance brings more conviction than words

Shakespeare understood this language clearly:

There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip, Nay, her foot speaks; her wanton spirits look out At every joint and motive in her body. (Troilus and Cressida, Act 4, Scene 5)

The Eye and the Lie

Still, the eye may lie. Lady Macbeth ordered her husband:

...bear welcome in your eye, Your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower, But be the serpent under it.

The Eagles sang that "you can't hide your lyin' eyes." But Ekman says you can. So the eyes may not always be the windows of the soul. They may be the curtains of the soul.

But lying successfully with the eyes and the body is not easy. Body language often negates verbal language; if you can use your eyes and not trust your ears, the truth will come out.

Freud said that:

He that has eyes to see and ears to hear may convince himself that no mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore (1977:114).

Experimental research with microphotography indicates that inexperienced liars may give the game away by, for instance, gaze aversion; others, aware of this and better able to monitor their actions, may employ the frank and open gaze as a deception behaviour.

In Telling Lies (1985), Paul Ekman suggested that "leakage" may occur through other eye language such as pupil dilation, blinking, and tearing. However, expert liars and psychopaths are extremely hard to detect, he said; so are people who believe their own lies.

There is a struggle of skills between the hider and the seeker. Some training in perceiving micro-expressions (fleeting "leaks" lasting less than one-quarter of a second) can be helpful. He insisted, "A lie catcher should never rely upon one clue to deceit; there must be many" (1985:147). But he cautioned: "Most liars can fool most of the people most of the time" (1985:162).

The credibility of the entire justice system rests on the perception of the difference between lies and truth. Both issues: disbelieving the truth, and believing the lie, have put the justice system on trial.

The Evil Eye

Belief in the evil eye has been widespread throughout history and around the world, as The Evil Eye by F.T. Elworthy (1989 [c.1900]) and C. Maloney (1976) attest. In the end, the eye can kill. The evil eye is known and feared in most cultures and is widely believed to be as effective as the eye sighting down the barrel of a rifle unless one takes precautions.

In the modern West, the belief may be dismissed as superstition , for the eyes are not "seen" as weapons, but if words can wound, then perhaps looks can kill.

The Eye and Evolution

The eye is a magnificent organ: beautiful, expressive, and useful. Indeed, the eye is often cited as proof not only of the existence of God but especially as proof of the truth of creationism. Evolution, it is argued, could never have created the eye.

In The Origin of Species , Darwin discussed the eye:

To suppose that the eye, with all its inimitable contrivances for adjusting the focus for different distances, for admitting different amounts of light, and for the correction of spherical and chromatic aberration, could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest possible degree. (1968:217)

Absurd, maybe, but "any sensitive nerve may be rendered sensible to light, and likewise to those coarser vibrations of the air which produce sound." Hence, through "numerous gradations…useful to an animal under changing conditions of life," each of these variations being inherited over time, then "the difficulty of believing...can hardly be considered real" (1968:217). ·

In Climbing Mount Improbable (1997), Richard Dawkins explained that about a dozen different types of eyes exist today. While the path of ocular evolution cannot be traced exactly since there is no fossil record of soft tissue, it probably all began with light-sensitive single-celled organisms, perhaps like such creatures as jellyfish and leeches today.

What are the eyes? Obviously organs of sight and emotional expression, and thus very useful and highly valued, but also possibly windows of the soul, or perhaps curtains of the soul, or maybe evil weapons; but certainly wonders of evolution over millions of millennia. 1

Freud, Sigmund 1977. Case Histories 1. Pelican Freud Library Vol. 8.

1 To explore eyes further, see “The Body Social.”

Anthony Synnot t, Ph.D. , is a professor of sociology at Concordia University in Montreal.

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10 reasons why eyes are beautiful, reasons why our variances always bring us together..

I was staring at myself in the mirror the other day, and you know what I am talking about when I say that sometimes the lighting is so spot on it appears that your face is movie-flawless... and then there are days where you feel so blah that when you look in the mirror it's like you are literal death.

Anyway, I was staring in the mirror at my eyes. In my head, they are very typical; nothing overly special about my birth defect.

I don't want to bore you with the Sciencey details about what I am talking about (but if you'd like to read the article, you can find it here ), so I'll do a slight break down.

Blue eyes are a birth defect.

We can (and probably will forever and ever) blame genetics for this defect as our eyes do not hold pigmentation that our varied Brown and Green eyed counterparts have.

This is not to say that there's anything wrong with having blue eyes, in fact, this is about embracing our variances. My eyes lie somewhere between a Cobalt Blue and a weird Blue-Grey (and right around my iris is a Hazel ring). I was talking to my team (my Odyssey Family ) about their own eye color , whether or not they liked them, and whether or not they were attracted to people based on a specified eye-color. Those that actually responded (no shade I swear!) did so positively, showing the much-needed love for their own eyes.

Although I know that some people feel iffy about their eyes, about whether or not they're beautiful (THEY ARE, STOP FUCKING RESISTING AND LOVE THEM), this list is to benefit us all.

1. Eyes are their own world

People have fascinating eyes, seriously. They come in so many different shades of the same colors, sometimes more than one color... how could you not love them? They're unique (whether or not you think they are is irrelevant) because even if someone else has the "same" eye color, there will always be something different about them.

2. Eyes are the most expressive part of anyone's body

There are some people who are overly expressive with their entire bodies, regardless of what's happening and how they're feeling. However, many people have learned to have a "stage face," meaning that they can hold up a facade as long as necessary... but their eyes always rat them out. I am one of these people. I will always chalk it up to being light sensitive (no really, I am), but I wear sunglasses that you can't see through in order to contain my emotions (although my eyebrows can also give me away... double Whammy here). THE EYES GIVE IT AWAY (there are of course some exceptions to this that are not presently worth mentioning).

3. Eyes with no pigment are still awesome

To my birth defected Family- WE STILL HAVE BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT EYES. I cannot shout it via this text, but know that I am. I know that many of us have fantasized about pigment polluting our eyes with what we wanted to be "perfect" without thinking of how lovely they already were (seriously, though, I wanted Grass Green eyes for the entirety of my childhood). You can slay (and you will) with your eyes, so work it, love them, and move forward. Your eyes are will always be a defect you have to live with.

4. Eyes that are variations of green are solidly wonderful

Throughout my childhood, I coveted the beauty that was green eyes. It didn't matter if they were a solid variation of green or a hazel combo... I wanted them- they reminded me of warm sunny days along tall grasses. They reminded me of freedom and adventure... there's no way someone wouldn't love these. I still feel drawn to them to this day (fascination, as well as general attraction). You rock your green/hazel!

5. Eyes that are variations of brown do NOT look like poo (but do occasionally look like sweet, sweet delicious caramel or chocolate)

I have heard many people refer to their brown eyes as "poop," ... stahp. Your eyes are the most pigmented out of everyone. Your eyes are warm, kind, inviting, deep (do all eyes have these qualities? Sure, but I find that sometimes they run deeper here or are expressed more openly), and intoxicating. Your eyes... holy crap you're eyes are amazing. If words could accurately describe how extraordinary brown eyes are, I could babble forever. Please love your eyes, they are beautiful.

6. Eyes aren't always the same

The actor you see above is Dominic Sherwood, he plays Jace in the series Shadowhunters (he also plays Christian in Vampire Academy), and as you can see he has 2 different colored eyes. Well... technically he has 1 colored eye... get it? because Blue Eyes are a birth defect?... No? Well, fine. Regardless of whether or not someone finds this actor physically attractive, his eyes are... magnificent. #eyeswoon

7. Eyes are always coined as "the window to the soul"

I personally feel there's a direct link between A. How someone is feeling and B. How that relates to them as an overall person. It isn't a coincidence that songs, poetry , stories, etc. often depict eyes in a way that we can SEE (metaphorically/physically/spiritually) into someone's very soul, their mind, the overall essence of themselves. If this were not in some aspects accurate, we wouldn't notice subtle changes in mood through facial/eye expressions.

8. Eyes do not define you

I know this one sounds a little odd, but what I mean is this- just because you fall in line with a specific eye color (or not specific? I don't know how this shit works ok?) that doesn't make you and your eyes superior to someone else's. This leaves varied blues, browns, and greens on the same damn level. EYES are perfect collectively.

9. Eye color envy is ridiculous

I get it, you might not like your eye color, but TOUGH SHIT BOO you're stuck with it. If your eye color was just a part of your heritage would you be so quick to dispel it completely? Don't envy someone else's eyes, yours speak volumes all on their own!

10. Your Eyes are Perfect

I am going to blatantly tell you that you're wrong- wrong if you don't think your eyes are beautiful. Wrong if you don't think they are the perfect shade of whatever the hell they are. Your eyes may not be the ONLY interesting thing about you, but they are one of the most fascinating. They are yours, no one else's. They are adaptations of you as a human, as someone who is growing and learning. Do not forget that, they are always a part of you.

If for some bizarre reason you just can't love your eyes, at least you have me (the weird chick who's obsessed with eyes) to look upon you fondly.

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19 lessons i'll never forget from growing up in a small town, there have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble.

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

Navigating the Talking Stage: 21 Essential Questions to Ask for Connection

It's mandatory to have these conversations..

Whether you met your new love interest online , through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

1. What do you do for a living?

What someone does for a living can tell a lot about who they are and what they're interested in! Their career reveals a lot more about them than just where they spend their time to make some money.

2. What's your favorite color?

OK, I get it, this seems like something you would ask a Kindergarten class, but I feel like it's always good to know someone's favorite color . You could always send them that Snapchat featuring you in that cute shirt you have that just so happens to be in their favorite color!

3. Do you have any siblings?

This one is actually super important because it's totally true that people grow up with different roles and responsibilities based on where they fall in the order. You can tell a lot about someone just based on this seemingly simple question.

4. What's your favorite television show?

OK, maybe this isn't a super important question, but you have to know ASAP if you can quote Michael Scott or not. If not, he probably isn't the one. Sorry, girl.

5. When is your birthday?

You can then proceed to do the thing that every girl does without admitting it and see how compatible your zodiacs are.

6. What's your biggest goal in life?

If you're like me, you have big goals that you want to reach someday, and you want a man behind you who also has big goals and understands what it's like to chase after a dream. If his biggest goal is to see how quickly he can binge-watch " Grey's Anatomy " on Netflix , you may want to move on.

7. If you had three wishes granted to you by a genie, what would they be?

This is a go-to for an insight into their personality. Based on how they answer, you can tell if they're goofy, serious, or somewhere in between.

8. What's your favorite childhood memory?

For some, this may be a hard question if it involves a family member or friend who has since passed away . For others, it may revolve around a tradition that no longer happens. The answers to this question are almost endless!

9. If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?

We all have parts of our lives and stories that we wish we could change. It's human nature to make mistakes. This question is a little bit more personal but can really build up the trust level.

10. Are you a cat or a dog person?

I mean, duh! If you're a dog person, and he is a cat person, it's not going to work out.

11. Do you believe in a religion or any sort of spiritual power?

Personally, I am a Christian, and as a result, I want to be with someone who shares those same values. I know some people will argue that this question is too much in the talking stage , but why go beyond the talking stage if your personal values will never line up?

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Even homebodies have a must visit place on their bucket list !

13. What is your ideal date night?

Hey, if you're going to go for it... go for it!

14. Who was/is your celebrity crush?

For me, it was hands-down Nick Jonas . This is always a fun question to ask!

15. What's a good way to cheer you up if you're having a bad day?

Let's be real, if you put a label on it, you're not going to see your significant other at their best 24/7.

16. Do you have any tattoos?

This can lead to some really good conversations, especially if they have a tattoo that has a lot of meaning to them!

17. Can you describe yourself in three words?

It's always interesting to see if how the person you're talking to views their personal traits lines ups with the vibes you're getting.

18. What makes you the most nervous in life?

This question can go multiple different directions, and it could also be a launching pad for other conversations.

19. What's the best gift you have ever received? 

Admittedly, I have asked this question to friends as well, but it's neat to see what people value.

20. What do you do to relax/have fun?

Work hard, play hard, right?

21. What are your priorities at this phase of your life?

This is always interesting because no matter how compatible your personalities may be, if one of you wants to be serious and the other is looking for something casual, it's just not going to work.

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Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in challah bread or easter bread.

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

A few weeks ago, I was given a loaf of bread called Challah (pronounced like holla), and upon my first bite, I realized it tasted just like Easter Bread. It was so delicious that I just had to make some of my own, which I did.

The recipe is as follows:

Ingredients

2 tsp active dry or instant yeast 1 cup lukewarm water 4 to 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup white granulated sugar 2 tsp salt 2 large eggs 1 large egg yolk (reserve the white for the egg wash) 1/4 cup neutral-flavored vegetable oil

Instructions

• Combine yeast and a pinch of sugar in small bowl with the water and stir until you see a frothy layer across the top.
• Whisk together 4 cups of the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl.
• Make a well in the center of the flour and add in eggs, egg yolk, and oil. Whisk these together to form a slurry, pulling in a little flour from the sides of the bowl.
• Pour the yeast mixture over the egg slurry and mix until difficult to move.
• Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface and knead by hand for about 10 minutes. If the dough seems very sticky, add flour a teaspoon at a time until it feels tacky, but no longer like bubblegum. The dough has finished kneading when it is soft, smooth, and holds a ball-shape.
• Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and place somewhere warm. Let the dough rise 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• Separate the dough into four pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a long rope roughly 1-inch thick and 16 inches long.
• Gather the ropes and squeeze them together at the very top. Braid the pieces in the pattern of over, under, and over again. Pinch the pieces together again at the bottom.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment and lift the loaf on top. Sprinkle the loaf with a little flour and drape it with a clean dishcloth. Place the pan somewhere warm and away from drafts and let it rise until puffed and pillowy, about an hour.
• Heat the oven to 350°F. Whisk the reserved egg white with a tablespoon of water and brush it all over the challah. Be sure to get in the cracks and down the sides of the loaf.
• Slide the challah on its baking sheet into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through cooking. The challah is done when it is deeply browned.

I kept wondering how these two breads could be so similar in taste. So I decided to look up a recipe for Easter Bread to make a comparison. The two are almost exactly the same! These recipes are similar because they come from religious backgrounds. The Jewish Challah bread is based on kosher dietary laws. The Christian Easter Bread comes from the Jewish tradition but was modified over time because they did not follow kosher dietary laws.

A recipe for Easter bread is as follows:

2 tsp active dry or instant yeast 2/3 cup milk 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 cup white granulated sugar 2 tbs butter 2 large eggs 2 tbs melted butter 1 tsp salt

• In a large bowl, combine 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, and yeast; stir well. Combine milk and butter in a small saucepan; heat until milk is warm and butter is softened but not melted.
• Gradually add the milk and butter to the flour mixture; stirring constantly. Add two eggs and 1/2 cup flour; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal size rounds; cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each round into a long roll about 36 inches long and 1 1/2 inches thick. Using the two long pieces of dough, form a loosely braided ring, leaving spaces for the five colored eggs. Seal the ends of the ring together and use your fingers to slide the eggs between the braids of dough.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place loaf on a buttered baking sheet and cover loosely with a damp towel. Place loaf in a warm place and let rise until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes. Brush risen loaf with melted butter.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Both of these recipes are really easy to make. While you might need to have a day set aside for this activity, you can do things while the dough is rising or in the oven. After only a few hours, you have a delicious loaf of bread that you made from scratch, so the time and effort is really worth it!

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The World Through My Eyes

Favorite Quote: Usually I'm remarkably good natured, try me on any day that doesn't end in 'y'.

My parents taught me at an early age to always keep an open mind, and I do to this day. Unfortunately, I’ve come to realize that not all children my age were blessed enough to receive that same lesson. When I become frustrated with narrow-minded attitudes, my dad always gives me the same exact lecture. “You need to remember that you had an opportunity to see a whole world that most people will never experience in their life. Not everyone gets to travel the world, Brooke.” Having a dad in the military wasn’t so bad, after all. When I was ten years old, he was assigned to an international base in Belgium. I wasn’t happy about the move at first; I didn’t want to leave my friends and family behind. I even asked my grandma if I could live with her for the next three years. At ten, I was quite the narrow-minded child. Getting off the plane after a fourteen hour ride didn’t exactly change my attitude right away, either. In fact, it didn’t transform until I made new friends and overcame the shock of being plunged into a new culture. In Europe, everything was different. The currency, the food, the scenery, the people, the attitudes; the entire atmosphere took some getting used to. We lived in a primarily French neighborhood, and I had to learn to speak French just to converse with my neighbors. My brothers and I attended the American school on base, as did kids our age from many other nations. I made friends with Canadians, Bulgarians, Germans, Norwegians, Spaniards, and fellow Americans. My elementary school was the melting pot of education. With all that diversity, however, came plenty of beliefs and experiences that differed from my own. One particular instance I remember quite well happens to be a conversation I had with some British kids on my bus. They claimed that the American Revolution was a joke and that the United States should be a part of the United Kingdom. I, being a typically patriotic child, argued with them for half an hour about how the U.S. won fair and square and that we deserve to be independent. I could’ve sworn I started a miniature World War III that morning. After sharing the story with my parents, they explained that just because those kids were bigoted, didn’t mean I had to be. Instead of continuing my debate the next day, I just accepted that other people have their own ideas and opinions, and I had to respect that. (Even if I thought they were completely wrong.) I continued to travel the world over the next three years. I saw Big Ben, the Eiffel Tower, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. I came across many more people with diverse views and attitudes, but I learned how to handle those differences with grace. Currently, I’m living in a small town with people that have even smaller, more conservative views of the world and its issues. When I moved back home, I came back a completely different person. Traveling the world and experiencing what I did can definitely have that effect on a person, especially a child. It was a surprise to see that everybody didn’t change with me. Even today, I get irritated with biased attitudes and one-sided arguments. I want everyone to see the world through my eyes, and experience what I’ve experienced. Since that’s not possible, I always try to do the next best thing. I close my eyes, open my mind, and think back to the time I was a stubborn, short-sighted ten year-old. I remember how blessed I am and have been, and think of my father’s words. “Not everyone has been where you have been or seen what you have seen. You are blessed, and that is evident in your words and your actions.” Four years and many arguments later, I’m ready to share my experiences and words with the college of my dreams. I don’t have to travel around the world to keep to my path; instead, I hope to continue my journey at your school and open up numerous opportunities, just as traveling the world has opened my eyes.

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by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I love your lips when they’re wet with wine And red with a wild desire; I love your eyes when the lovelight lies Lit with a passionate fire. I love your arms when the warm white flesh Touches mine in a fond embrace; I love your hair when the strands enmesh Your kisses against my face. Not for me the cold, calm kiss Of a virgin’s bloodless love; Not for me the saint’s white bliss, Nor the heart of a spotless dove. But give me the love that so freely gives And laughs at the whole world’s blame, With your body so young and warm in my arms, It sets my poor heart aflame. So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth, Still fragrant with ruby wine, And say with a fervor born of the South That your body and soul are mine. Clasp me close in your warm young arms, While the pale stars shine above, And we’ll live our whole young lives away In the joys of a living love.

Summary of I Love You

• Popularity of “I Love You”: Ella Wheeler Wilcox , a famous American author, and poet wrote ‘I Love You’. It was first published in the 19 th  century. The poem explores the phenomenon of sensual love and comprises the speaker ’s attempt to express the depth of her profound love. Since its publication, it has won widespread popularity on account of its everlasting description of love.
• “I Love You”, As a Representative of Love: The poet articulates her feelings of blissfulness of her sensual love. The poet, very artistically, draws a picture of her overwhelming love and paints it with her intense emotions. She desires for love that satisfies and excites, and not the one that is dull and passive. She provides a vivid description of love she longs for and wants the same response from her lover. Also, she talks about physical intimacy and expressing pure, appealing, compelling and transcendent nature of love.
• Major Themes in “I Love You”: Love, happiness, and fulfillment of sensual desires are the major themes of this poem. The poet expresses her true love for her significant other which she describes, brings joys and excitement. Also, it gives feelings of fulfillment and satiation. Therefore, she reinforces these themes by expressing her innermost desires that show possessiveness for her love. The choice of words suggests that she desires that his innocent and pure love should last forever.

Analysis of Literary Devices in “I Love You”

literary devices are tools the writers use to create meanings in their texts to enhance the poems or stories and connect the readers with the real message of the text. Ella Wheeler Wilcox has also used some literary devices in this poem to project her ideas about love. The analysis of some of the literary devices used in this poem has been given below.

• Enjambment : Enjambment refers to the continuation of a sentence without the pause beyond the end of a line, couplet or stanza such as;

“And say with a fervor born of the South That your body and soul are mine.”

• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /l/ in “And we’ll live our whole young lives away”.
• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /uh/ in “Of a virgin’s bloodless love.”
• Anaphora : It refers to the repetition of a word or expression in the first part of some verses. For example, usage of “love your” in the opening lines to show her intense love.

“I love your eyes when the love light lies I love your eyes when the love light lies.”

• Alliteration : Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /w/ in “So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth”.
• Symbolism : Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings different from literal meanings. The word “white” symbolizes purity, innocence, and chastity, while the word “dove” is the symbol of freedom and clarity.
• Personification : Personification is to give human qualities to non-human things. For examples, lips are personified in the first line, “I love your lips when they’re wet with wine, And red with a wild desire.” Here the lips appear like humans with desire.
• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things with their five senses. For example the sense of sight and touch, “I love your lips when they’re wet with wine”, “So kiss me sweet with your warm wet mouth” and “I love your arms when the warm white flesh, Touches mine in a fond embrace.”

This brief literary analysis shows that Ella Wheeler Wilcox has exercised her expertise to present passionate love.

Analysis of Poetic Devices in “I Love You”

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

• Stanza : A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are three stanzas in this poem.
• Octave : An octave is a verse form which consists of eight lines in iambic pentameter . There are three octaves in this poem.
• Rhyme Scheme : The rhyme scheme is ABCBDEFE for each octave.
• Iambic Pentameter : It is a type of meter having five iambs per line. The poem follows iambic pentameter such as, “I love your lips when they’ re wet with wine.”

Quotes to be Used

The lines stated below can be used when expressing true love for the mistress. The words such as, “wild desire” and “passionate fire” show the intensity of one’s love.

“I love your lips when they’re wet with wine And red with a wild desire; I love your eyes when the love light lies Lit with a passionate fire.”

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How to Describe Eyes in Writing (21 Best Tips + Examples)

Eyes are often hailed as the “windows to the soul,” capable of conveying complex emotions without uttering a single word.

As writers, mastering the art of describing eyes can elevate your storytelling.

Here is how to describe eyes in writing:

Describe eyes in writing by focusing on color, shape, and emotional depth. Use descriptive words like “captivating” or “luminous.” Phrases like “windows to the soul” add layers. Consider eyelids, lashes, and blinking for subtle emotional cues.

In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about how to describe eyes in writing.

1. The Color Palette: More Than Just Blue and Brown

Table of Contents

Color is usually the first attribute that comes to mind when describing eyes.

Going beyond the cliché blue and brown can bring your characters to life in vivid detail.

Try unconventional colors and make comparisons to set a mood.

For example, instead of saying, “She had green eyes,” you might say, “Her eyes were the color of freshly mown grass, evoking an undeniable feeling of rebirth.”

Different colors can invoke various emotions or suggest specific character traits.

“Eyes as gray as a stormy sea” could symbolize a tumultuous spirit or an adventurous soul.

Therefore, use colors not just as factual descriptions but as emotional or character-driven statements.

You can even mix colors for added depth, “His eyes were a mix of gold and brown, like a forest floor dappled in autumn sunlight.”

2. The Light Dance: Luminosity Unveiled

The way eyes catch light can describe more than just the setting sun or dim room.

It can tell your reader about the emotional landscape of your characters.

For example, eyes that “gleam like polished stones catching the midday sun” could portray a character in a state of clarity or revelation.

The luminosity of the eyes can also serve as a narrative device, enhancing the emotional undercurrents of a scene.

“Her eyes dimmed, mirroring the dwindling campfire, as she heard the sad tale” can infuse additional layers of emotion into the situation.

This can help the reader feel the gravity of the story along with the character.

3. Shape-Shifting: The Geometry of Gaze

The shape of a character’s eyes can be a playground for creativity.

From almond-shaped to round, the geometry of eyes can offer readers clues about a character’s disposition.

For instance, “Her oval eyes always had a dreamy look, as if she were perpetually lost in thought” can say a lot about the character’s daydreaming nature or thoughtful demeanor.

Don’t forget that eye shape can be dynamic, changing with emotional states or circumstances.

You might describe a normally cheerful character as having “eyes that narrowed into cold slivers when he heard the disparaging comment.”

This not only gives your characters depth but also builds a stronger emotional connection with the reader.

4. Blink Back the Emotions

Never underestimate the power of a blink in conveying emotional subtlety.

A quick blink can express surprise.

While slow, measured blinks could imply a character is deeply contemplating a decision.

For example, “She blinked rapidly, as if trying to ward off the tears that threatened to spill,” succinctly captures a moment of emotional vulnerability.

A single blink can also serve as a pivotal moment in the story.

“He blinked once, slowly, as if imprinting the scene onto his soul” not only adds emotional weight but also signals a significant moment.

5. Mirrors and Windows: Emotional Portals

Eyes can act as mirrors reflecting internal emotions or windows offering a glimpse into the soul.

A character’s gaze can speak volumes, revealing underlying feelings or thoughts.

“His eyes were impenetrable mirrors, reflecting nothing but deflecting everything,” suggests a stoic or guarded individual.

In contrast, eyes can serve as open windows, giving readers insight into a character’s emotional state.

“Her eyes were open windows to her joy, sparkling like stars on a clear night,” indirectly reveals the depth of her happiness.

Using this technique can convey complex emotions in a show-don’t-tell fashion.

6. Crinkles and Lines: The Etchings of Experience

The skin surrounding the eyes can be a treasure trove of storytelling.

Whether it’s laugh lines or weary creases, these “etchings” can reveal a character’s history or emotional state.

For example, “Her eyes were framed by lines that spoke of decades filled with laughter and resilience” provides a wealth of information about a character’s life experiences.

On the flip side, you can use the absence of these lines to highlight a different set of experiences or qualities.

“His eyes were alarmingly smooth, devoid of the wrinkles that often accompany age, as if time itself hesitated to mark him.”

This could signify a range of possibilities—from a sheltered life to a mysterious, age-defying character.

7. The Focus Factor: Where the Gaze Lands

Where a character focuses their eyes can indicate interest, discomfort, or even deceit.

“She couldn’t maintain eye contact and her gaze kept drifting to the floor,” could suggest a lack of confidence or that she’s hiding something.

Here’s another example: “His eyes locked onto the painting, absorbing every brushstroke as if trying to capture its essence.”

The focus of the gaze is telling of the character’s artistic interest.

Or perhaps a deeper emotional connection to the artwork.

Employ focus intentionally to add another layer of complexity to your characters.

8. The Invisible Force: Magnetic Attraction or Repulsion

Sometimes eyes don’t just look; they draw in or push away.

Describing this invisible force can add an ethereal quality to your characters.

“Her eyes seemed to pull him in, a gravitational force he couldn’t resist,” not only describes attraction but also gives it a nearly magical, irresistible quality.

Alternatively, eyes can repel, emitting an almost palpable energy that keeps people at bay.

“People avoided looking into his eyes, as if a simple glance could cast a dark shadow over their day.”

This can set the mood quickly and establish a character as menacing or tragically solitary.

9. Eye-talk: Silent Conversations

Eyes can often communicate messages that words fail to capture.

Describing these “silent conversations” can create emotionally charged scenes between characters.

For instance, “Their eyes met, and in that brief moment, a flurry of unspoken apologies and forgiveness exchanged.”

In a more humorous scenario, you might write, “A roll of her eyes spoke louder than words, a whole paragraph on why the joke was painfully unfunny.”

Use eye-talk to demonstrate the depth of understanding or the lack thereof between characters.

By doing so, you enrichen the personal dynamics in your story.

10. Motion and Emotion: The Kinetics of Eye Movement

The movement of eyes—darting, sweeping, flicking—can indicate a variety of emotions or thoughts.

“Her eyes darted around the room, like a hummingbird seeking nectar, but finding none,” could indicate anxiety or a feeling trapped.

Movement can also be slow and calculated: “His eyes slowly scanned the crowd until they landed on her. It was as though he had found what he was unconsciously searching for all evening.”

Here, the eyes act almost like a compass, guided by emotion or instinct to find a person in a crowd.

11. Veils and Shields: The Role of Eyelids and Lashes

Eyelids and eyelashes do more than just frame the eyes.

They act as veils or shields, expressing vulnerability or defense.

For example, “Her eyelashes were a curtain that she dropped quickly, hiding the turmoil that had briefly flickered in her eyes,” could indicate a momentary lapse in an otherwise strong facade.

On the other hand, “His eyelids lifted slowly, as if reluctantly allowing access to the secrets hidden in his gaze,” paints a vivid image of a guarded individual.

With eyelids acting as gatekeepers and eyelashes as intricate curtains, your description gains a theatrical quality.

12. Icy Stares and Fiery Glances: Temperature Imagery

Using temperature as imagery can add another layer of emotional context.

“Her gaze was icy, freezing everyone it touched, making even a crowded room feel lonely,” effectively conveys detachment and emotional coldness.

Alternatively, “His eyes burned with a fire that could ignite even the most dampened spirits,” suggests passion.

By assigning a “temperature” to your characters’ eyes, you’re doing more than describing.

You’re setting the emotional climate of your story.

13. Twin Moons: Symmetry and Asymmetry

Our eyes are often assumed to be symmetrical.

But describing a character with slightly asymmetrical eyes can add an interesting twist.

“Her right eye was noticeably larger than her left, as if it had seen more of the world and expanded with wisdom,” can introduce an element of uniqueness and intrigue.

Conversely, perfect symmetry can be used to highlight otherworldly beauty or artificiality.

“His eyes were symmetrically perfect, each a mirror image of the other, making him appear almost too flawless, like a sculpture.”

14. Distance and Depth: Proximity of Emotional Connection

The physical space between eyes can symbolize emotional distance or closeness.

“Her closely set eyes, like parallel lines that never meet, made it hard to decipher her emotions,” suggests a character who might be emotionally inaccessible.

On the flip side, consider: “His wide-set eyes seemed to embrace the world, absorbing its myriad colors and nuances.”

This description could indicate a more open, emotionally available individual.

The space between eyes can become a metaphorical playground for writers.

15. Transient Hues: Changing Colors

Some eyes change colors depending on the lighting or the character’s mood.

Describing this can add a mystical or unpredictable quality.

“Her eyes shifted from a deep blue to an oceanic green when she was lost in thought,” opens up a realm of questions and adds an element of unpredictability to the character.

Or you might write, “As he grew angrier, the brown of his eyes seemed to darken, like clouds gathering before a storm.”

Changing colors can make your character seem complex and intriguing, demanding the reader’s attention.

16. Windows or Walls: Transparency and Opacity

The eyes can be either transparent windows to the soul or impenetrable walls.

For example, “Looking into her eyes was like staring into a clear pond, where even the smallest pebble on the bottom was visible,” indicates transparency and vulnerability.

Contrastingly, “His eyes were like tinted windows—no matter how hard you looked, you couldn’t see inside.”

The latter communicates a sense of emotional fortification.

Transparency and opacity serve as tools to indicate how approachable or aloof a character is as a person.

17. Spotlighting: Single Eye Focus

Most descriptions involve both eyes, but focusing on just one can create an arresting image.

“Her left eye seemed to flicker with an inner light, commanding attention and distracting from her otherwise placid face,” can indicate a multifaceted character with hidden depths or asymmetrical qualities.

Or perhaps, “His right eye twitched involuntarily, belying the calm he otherwise projected.”

A focus on a single eye can serve to amplify emotion, make a character more memorable, or highlight an incongruity in their personality.

18. Eye Accessories: Glasses and Contacts

Glasses or contact lenses can be more than just functional.

They can offer insights into a character.

“Her thick glasses magnified her eyes to an impossible size, giving her an air of constant astonishment,” shows how glasses can be used to amplify a character trait.

Accessories become an extension of the character, revealing their choices, desires, or insecurities.

19. A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words: Artistic Imagery

Sometimes, describing eyes as artworks can be exceptionally evocative.

“Her eyes were like a Jackson Pollock painting, a chaotic blend of colors that somehow made sense,” can indicate a complex and unpredictable character.

Or perhaps, “His eyes resembled a Van Gogh sky, swirling with depth and endless hues of blue and yellow.”

Artistic comparisons not only make the description more vivid.

But can also provide an intellectual backdrop to your character’s emotional landscape.

20. The Art of Avoidance: When Eyes Are Hidden

There can be significant impact in moments where a character’s eyes are hidden—by hair, a hat, or even their own hand.

“His eyes were obscured by a mess of unruly hair, as if he was deliberately hiding from the world,” can suggest a character who is emotionally unavailable or in a state of internal chaos.

Conversely, “She covered her eyes with a hand, as if blocking out the reality before her,” could indicate denial.

Or, perhaps, a reluctance to face the truth.

The absence or obstruction of eyes can speak volumes, adding a layer of complexity to the narrative.

21. The Blink Code: The Tempo of Eye Movement

The rhythm and tempo of blinking can subtly express a character’s emotional state or intentions.

Rapid blinking might reveal nervousness, excitement, or distress.

Slow, deliberate blinks could convey thoughtfulness or calm.

The blink can be as revealing as any other aspect of eye description, acting as a silent Morse code that conveys underlying emotional states.

For example, “Her eyelids shut tightly and reopened slowly, as though she was steeling herself for what was to come. Each blink seemed to be a word in a private language of courage.”

Here is a good video about how to describe eyes in writing:

10 Elements of Eyes to Describe in Writing

To summarize, here are 10 elements (or traits) of eyes that you can describe:

• Color : The most obvious characteristic, but it can say a lot about a character. Blues, browns, greens, and grays each have their own set of associated traits and emotions.
• Shape : The shape of the eyes can lend personality cues. Almond-shaped, round, or narrow eyes can make a character seem mysterious, innocent, or intense.
• Size : Describing the size of the eyes can also give hints about a character’s personality. Large eyes might convey innocence or openness, while small eyes could suggest cunning or secrecy.
• Luminosity/Brightness : How bright or dull the eyes appear can reflect the character’s emotional state or overall personality. Luminous eyes might signify vitality or a strong spirit.
• Transparency : This refers to how “readable” the eyes are. Are they the proverbial “window to the soul,” or are they more like impenetrable walls?
• Intensity : The power of a gaze can say a lot. An intense stare may show determination, while a lack of intensity could signal disinterest or fatigue.
• Texture : While not immediately visible from a distance, up close the eyes may have specks, flecks, or distinct patterns that could add uniqueness to a character.
• Direction : Where a character is looking—averting their gaze, staring straight ahead, or looking down—can show their emotional state and add context to dialogue and actions.
• Movement : This includes blinking, winking, or any other eye movements. Rapid blinking might indicate stress, while slow blinking could indicate thoughtfulness or calm.
• Surrounding Features : Eyebrows, eyelashes, and even the skin around the eyes can contribute to the overall impression. Bushy eyebrows, long lashes, or dark circles can add depth to your description.

30 Best Words to Describe Eyes in Writing

Here is a list of words to help you describe eyes in your stories:

• Melancholic
• Almond-shaped
• Calculating

30 Best Phrases to Describe Eyes in Writing

When a single word won’t do, you’ll need phrases for describing eyes.

Check out this curated list of phrases for how to describe eyes in writing:

• Eyes like saucers
• Windows to the soul
• A storm brewing in his eyes
• Eyes bright with unshed tears
• A twinkle in her eye
• Eyes darker than midnight
• Eyes that held galaxies
• Deep pools of emotion
• Eyes like open books
• Eyes narrowed in suspicion
• Eyes as cold as ice
• An unreadable gaze
• Pools of molten gold
• A piercing gaze
• Eyes dancing with mischief
• Eyes filled with wonder
• A guarded look
• Eyes aflame with passion
• A faraway look
• An inviting gaze
• Eyes shimmering like the ocean
• A gaze that could cut glass
• Eyes soft with compassion
• A lingering look
• A flirtatious glance
• Eyes clouded with doubt
• Eyes gleaming with intelligence
• An intense stare
• Eyes that defy description
• Eyes closed in contemplation

3 Full Examples of Describing Eyes in Different Genres

Let’s learn how to describe eyes in writing by looking at full examples in various fiction genres.

In the dimly lit room, his eyes caught hers, and it felt as though time stood still.

They were deep pools of chocolate, rich and warm, promising sweet secrets and hidden depths. A soft light seemed to emanate from them, casting a gentle glow that could melt the iciest of hearts. It was as though his soul was laid bare, and she felt herself drawn into his gaze, an irresistible force pulling her closer to the love she’d been seeking all her life.

As she walked through the enchanted forest, her eyes changed to mirror her surroundings.

Normally a plain brown, they turned into a swirling mix of emerald and gold, as if her irises were tiny galaxies with stars twinkling within. The transformation was spellbinding, making her appear not just of this realm, but a creature of otherworldly beauty.

Those eyes held power—power to unlock realms and unleash spells, a mysterious allure that could not be ignored.

His eyes were like shards of ice, a piercing blue that seemed to cut through the dim light of the interrogation room.

Each glance was calculated, devoid of emotion, revealing nothing yet seeing everything. It was a look that had unnerved many—a gaze that had stared down threats and seen horrors that would break most men.

His eyes were the epitome of a human lie detector, missing nothing, ever vigilant, and deeply unsettling.

Final Thoughts: How To Describe Eyes in Writing

The best way to describe eyes is blending the tips, words, and phrases.

Also, connect the bigger plot and theme to your eye descriptions.

Of course, there is much more than eyes to describe in your story. Read the other guides on our site to learn how to describe, people, places, and scenes in your story.

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Love Is Blind Essay Example

• Pages: 4 (1012 words)
• Published: November 28, 2017
• Type: Paper

Do you remember your first kiss? Did you keep your eyes open or closed? I bet you closed your eyes. Isn’t this the essence of “love is blind? ” You kiss them without fear, and without any sense of danger. You do not have to see the one you love to know you love them. You accept love on blind faith.

Love is blind and for a moment we use this phrase to justify the obvious flaws we do not recognize in the people. Lovers are oblivious to the truth and therefore unable to be clear-sighted. My perspective is that we are blinded by love and we act carelessly without assessing any of our actions, thus we have regret for any mistakes later on.My latest experience where love is blind has to do with a friend that I know for a little

over six months now, but I could say that I can feel her profound misery every time she spills her disappointment on her love matter with her long-distance boyfriend. He had to relocate to china because he received well-paid career there.

Sharon would spend hours talking to him online and via phone even in the early hour of morning. They have experienced love even before they have seen each other in person; it was about a year ago when they have met online and developed an exigent relationship.She would always cry all day and night because of a terrible fight. She attacks me with complaints every single day uttering in hatred of how selfish he is. I would ask her, “if that is the situation, why are you still with him”; and sh

would mumble “I love him. ” On the tenth months of their relationship, they have decided to finally meet each other.

She flew to Singapore to meet him there. They spent about a week together and that one week is the happiest and the sweetest moment of her life as she described. The day they have parted, she gave him her gold necklace as a sign of her love and devotion for him.After their personal meeting and a very memorable week, I have hoped that somehow their relationship will be better. Much to my surprise, it have gotten worse than I could ever imagined.

Sharon is still in tears and one day she told me that they had a very huge fight. I remember, she once told me that before leaving China, just by the airport when she were about to take off. He told her “I have to tell you something really important that you deserve to know. ” Sharon was confused by his statement. After a year of having a rollercoaster and bittersweet relationship, it has turns out that he is married.He got married at an age of 22 to a girl whom was matched to him by his parents.

He decided to go to China for a job but the truth is he went there to fulfill his duty as a husband. He respects his marriage and does not tolerate to divorce. Indeed it is a heartbreaking new to Sharon. Days and nights she cried until her eyes dry out and her heart mourns for him. Each day, he calls Sharon and wants her forgiveness.

He says he missed her and wants

to spend the rest of his life with her. Sharon says she needs time to assess things. I spoke to her a month ago and she still does not know what to do.She is not angry at him or does not even feel betrayed of what he has done, rather, she is worried that her parents might come to know about it and they will force her to marry someone else. Sharon claims that he is the love of her life and does not mind that he is married. Therefore, love is blind because Sharon refuses to see the truth and only see what she wants to see.

She would rather endure the pain of hurting her selves, patiently cry, and accept what is there than opening her eyes into reality. People always question why women are beat today by boyfriends, parents, husbands, or even kids without assessing any action.People also wonder why they ended up loving that person, or how? Well it all boils down to one simple solution that is love is blind. “Love is blind it’ll take over your mind. What you think is love it’s truly not you need to elevate and find,” Spoken by the famous artist EVE. When I think of love is blind this lyric always pops into my head.

The music video is called “love is blind” by a famous artist named Eve. Eve dedicated this song to her best friend who lost her life from an abusive relationship. For those who have not yet seen the music video to this song, I strongly recommend seeing!After watching the video, you will tend to realize and understand there

certain situation that love is blind. The song is about a couple living together in a house; the woman (victim) loves this man who is physically abused her. In a drunken state or bad mood, he would beat her severely without a reason. Everyday she suffered verbal and emotional abuse by her boyfriend but yet she takes no action in correcting.

In the song, Eve was trying to save her from her abusive boyfriend, but she was blinded by love and refused to take her advice.At the end of the song, her best friend died because she was severely beaten by her boyfriend. Therefore, love makes people ignorant to reality and lose sight of their self-confidence and self-respect. Love has caused many people all over the world to be blind.

From having an affair with a married man to neglecting physical and emotional abuse from a loved one, love has shielded many people from making good judgments and decisions. In the end, love is a powerful emotion that can fool us all whether we are aware of it or not.

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Greater Love

16 pages • 32 minutes read

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Poem Analysis

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Summary and Study Guide

“Greater Love,” a lyrical ballad written by Wilfred Owen in either 1917 or 1918, draws upon his wartime experiences as an officer in World War I (1914-1918). The poem creates a startling juxtaposition between the clichés of romantic love and the brutal realities of armed warfare, in which patriotic young men are injured or killed in a conflict that the speaker depicts as meaningless. “Greater Love” embodies many of Owen’s key characteristics as a poet: simple and arresting language, bold imagery , and a deep thematic mistrust of jingoism and the idealizing of war. The poem first appeared in the collection Poems , published in 1920. Owen did not live to see the collection’s publication: He was killed in the line of duty on November 4, 1918, a mere week before the armistice was declared and the war came to an end.

Poet Biography

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Although later distinguished by his impressive literary gifts, Wilfred Owen was in many ways a young man typical of his generation. He was born on March 18, 1893, in Shropshire, England, the firstborn son of Tom Owen and Harriet Susan Shaw. While by no means wealthy, his family was of respectable social standing and reasonably comfortable. Owen was a bookish child who developed a deep interest in literature, although only four of his poems would be published during his lifetime.

Owen spent two years working as a teacher in France, from 1913 until 1915, and was living there at the time World War I broke out in July 1914. In 1915, Owen gave up teaching to enlist in the British Army as an officer, and was later sent into action on the Western Front. In 1917 Owen suffered from shellshock (now more commonly known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD) due to his wartime experiences; he underwent medical treatment in the UK for a year, during which his poetry took a darker turn, becoming more mature in style and more critical and bolder in its subject matter. With the encouragement of Siegfried Sassoon, a fellow poet and soldier, Owen wrote openly about the war, depicting it as a brutal, relentlessly unheroic undertaking that brought misery and loss in its wake.

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Although his feelings towards the war often ranged from ambivalence to outright disgust, Owen’s conduct as an officer was exemplary. When he returned to active duty on the Western Front in 1918, he won a Military Cross for bravery, and his letters to his mother attest to the deep care and concern he felt for the troops entrusted to his care. Owen was killed in the line of duty on November 4, 1918, one week before WWI came to an end. He was only 25 years old at the time of his death . His first poetry collection, simply entitled Poems , appeared in 1920; it included “Greater Love.”

Since his death, Owen has become famous as one of the leading WWI poets, with his work praised both for its high literary quality and its searing portraits of a “lost generation” sacrificed in the trenches.

Red lips are not so red

As the stained stones kissed by the English dead.

Kindness of wooed and wooer

Seems shame to their love pure.

O Love, your eyes lose lure

When I behold eyes blinded in my stead!

Your slender attitude

Trembles not exquisite like limbs knife-skewed,

Rolling and rolling there

Where God seems not to care;

Till the fierce love they bear

Cramps them in death's extreme decrepitude.

Your voice sings not so soft,—

Though even as wind murmuring through raftered loft,—

Your dear voice is not dear,

Gentle, and evening clear,

As theirs whom none now hear,

Now earth has stopped their piteous mouths that coughed.

Heart, you were never hot

Nor large, nor full like hearts made great with shot;

And though your hand be pale,

Paler are all which trail

Your cross through flame and hail:

Weep, you may weep, for you may touch them not.

Owen, Wilfred. “ Greater Love .” 1920. Poets.org .

“Greater Love” is a lyrical ballad in which the speaker reflects upon the strange and often gruesome ways in which love and violence mirror one another. It opens with the speaker contrasting the red lips of the beloved in traditional love poetry with the stones bloodstained by the wounds of dead soldiers, and continues with a series of stark images adding similarly jarring comparisons upon this juxtaposition: The sparkling eyes of the addressees of love poetry are replaced with the eyes of soldiers blinded by weaponry, a lover’s soft voice is compared to the silenced voices of dead soldiers, and the most famous symbol of love—the heart—is contrasted with the soldiers’ bodily organs that have now ceased to function. The poem ends with the speaker urging the reader to cry over the losses of the soldiers, as war has brought untimely death to them, and no one will ever be able to touch them again.

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Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love

Essay on Love for Students and Children

500+ words essay on love.

Love is the most significant thing in human’s life. Each science and every single literature masterwork will tell you about it. Humans are also social animals. We lived for centuries with this way of life, we were depended on one another to tell us how our clothes fit us, how our body is whether healthy or emaciated. All these we get the honest opinions of those who love us, those who care for us and makes our happiness paramount.

What is Love?

Love is a set of emotions, behaviors, and beliefs with strong feelings of affection. So, for example, a person might say he or she loves his or her dog, loves freedom, or loves God. The concept of love may become an unimaginable thing and also it may happen to each person in a particular way.

Love has a variety of feelings, emotions, and attitude. For someone love is more than just being interested physically in another one, rather it is an emotional attachment. We can say love is more of a feeling that a person feels for another person. Therefore, the basic meaning of love is to feel more than liking towards someone.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Need of Love

We know that the desire to love and care for others is a hard-wired and deep-hearted because the fulfillment of this wish increases the happiness level. Expressing love for others benefits not just the recipient of affection, but also the person who delivers it. The need to be loved can be considered as one of our most basic and fundamental needs.

One of the forms that this need can take is contact comfort. It is the desire to be held and touched. So there are many experiments showing that babies who are not having contact comfort, especially during the first six months, grow up to be psychologically damaged.

Significance of Love

Love is as critical for the mind and body of a human being as oxygen. Therefore, the more connected you are, the healthier you will be physically as well as emotionally. It is also true that the less love you have, the level of depression will be more in your life. So, we can say that love is probably the best antidepressant.

It is also a fact that the most depressed people don’t love themselves and they do not feel loved by others. They also become self-focused and hence making themselves less attractive to others.

Society and Love

It is a scientific fact that society functions better when there is a certain sense of community. Compassion and love are the glue for society. Hence without it, there is no feeling of togetherness for further evolution and progress. Love , compassion, trust and caring we can say that these are the building blocks of relationships and society.

Relationship and Love

A relationship is comprised of many things such as friendship , sexual attraction , intellectual compatibility, and finally love. Love is the binding element that keeps a relationship strong and solid. But how do you know if you are in love in true sense? Here are some symptoms that the emotion you are feeling is healthy, life-enhancing love.

Love is the Greatest Wealth in Life

Love is the greatest wealth in life because we buy things we love for our happiness. For example, we build our dream house and purchase a favorite car to attract love. Being loved in a remote environment is a better experience than been hated even in the most advanced environment.

Love or Money

Love should be given more importance than money as love is always everlasting. Money is important to live, but having a true companion you can always trust should come before that. If you love each other, you will both work hard to help each other live an amazing life together.

Love has been a vital reason we do most things in our life. Before we could know ourselves, we got showered by it from our close relatives like mothers , fathers , siblings, etc. Thus love is a unique gift for shaping us and our life. Therefore, we can say that love is a basic need of life. It plays a vital role in our life, society, and relation. It gives us energy and motivation in a difficult time. Finally, we can say that it is greater than any other thing in life.

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Essays About Love: 20 Intriguing Ideas for Students

Love can make a fascinating essay topic, but sometimes finding the perfect topic idea is challenging. Here are 20 of the best essays about love.

Writers have often explored the subject of love and what it means throughout history. In his book Essays in Love , Alain de Botton creates an in-depth essay on what love looks like, exploring a fictional couple’s relationship while highlighting many facts about love. This book shows how much there is to say about love as it beautifully merges non-fiction with fiction work.

The New York Times  published an entire column dedicated to essays on modern love, and many prize-winning reporters often contribute to the collection. With so many published works available, the subject of love has much to be explored.

If you are going to write an essay about love and its effects, you will need a winning topic idea. Here are the top 20 topic ideas for essays about love. These topics will give you plenty to think about and explore as you take a stab at the subject that has stumped philosophers, writers, and poets since the dawn of time.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

1. Outline the Definition of Love

2. describe your favorite love story, 3. what true love looks like, 4. discuss how human beings are hard-wired for love, 5. explore the different types of love, 6. determine the true meaning of love, 7. discuss the power of love, 8. do soul mates exist, 9. determine if all relationships should experience a break-up, 10. does love at first sight exist, 11. explore love between parents and children, 12. discuss the disadvantages of love, 13. ask if love is blind, 14. discuss the chemical changes that love causes, 15. outline the ethics of love, 16. the inevitability of heartbreak, 17. the role of love in a particular genre of literature, 18. is love freeing or oppressing, 19. does love make people do foolish things, 20. explore the theme of love from your favorite book or movie.

Defining love may not be as easy as you think. While it seems simple, love is an abstract concept with multiple potential meanings. Exploring these meanings and then creating your own definition of love can make an engaging essay topic.

To do this, first, consider the various conventional definitions of love. Then, compare and contrast them until you come up with your own definition of love.

One essay about love you could tackle is describing and analyzing a favorite love story. This story could be from a fiction tale or real life. It could even be your love story.

As you analyze and explain the love story, talk about the highs and lows of love. Showcase the hard and great parts of this love story, then end the essay by talking about what real love looks like (outside the flowers and chocolates).

This essay will explore what true love looks like. With this essay idea, you could contrast true love with the romantic love often shown in movies. This contrast would help the reader see how true love looks in real life.

An essay about what true love looks like could allow you to explore this kind of love in many different facets. It would allow you to discuss whether or not someone is, in fact, in true love. You could demonstrate why saying “I love you” is not enough through the essay.

There seems to be something ingrained in human nature to seek love. This fact could make an interesting essay on love and its meaning, allowing you to explore why this might be and how it plays out in human relationships.

Because humans seem to gravitate toward committed relationships, you could argue that we are hard-wired for love. But, again, this is an essay option that has room for growth as you develop your thoughts.

There are many different types of love. For example, while you can have romantic love between a couple, you may also have family love among family members and love between friends. Each of these types of love has a different expression, which could lend itself well to an interesting essay topic.

Writing an essay that compares and contrasts the different types of love would allow you to delve more deeply into the concept of love and what makes up a loving relationship.

What does love mean? This question is not as easy to answer as you might think. However, this essay topic could give you quite a bit of room to develop your ideas about love.

While exploring this essay topic, you may discover that love means different things to different people. For some, love is about how someone makes another person feel. To others, it is about actions performed. By exploring this in an essay, you can attempt to define love for your readers.

What can love make people do? This question could lend itself well to an essay topic. The power of love is quite intense, and it can make people do things they never thought they could or would do.

With this love essay, you could look at historical examples of love, fiction stories about love relationships, or your own life story and what love had the power to do. Then, at the end of your essay, you can determine how powerful love is.

The idea of a soul mate is someone who you are destined to be with and love above all others. This essay topic would allow you to explore whether or not each individual has a soul mate.

If you determine that they do, you could further discuss how you would identify that soul mate. How can you tell when you have found “the one” right for you? Expanding on this idea could create a very interesting and unique essay.

Break-ups seem inevitable, and strong relationships often come back together afterward. Yet are break-ups truly inevitable? Or are they necessary to create a strong bond? This idea could turn into a fascinating essay topic if you look at both sides of the argument.

On the one hand, you could argue that the break-up experience shows you whether or not your relationship can weather difficult times. On the other hand, you could argue that breaking up damages the trust you’re working to build. Regardless of your conclusion, you can build a solid essay off of this topic idea.

Love, at first sight is a common theme in romance stories, but is it possible? Explore this idea in your essay. You will likely find that love, at first sight, is nothing more than infatuation, not genuine love.

Yet you may discover that sometimes, love, at first sight, does happen. So, determine in your essay how you can differentiate between love and infatuation if it happens to you. Then, conclude with your take on love at first sight and if you think it is possible.

The love between a parent and child is much different than the love between a pair of lovers. This type of love is one-sided, with care and self-sacrifice on the parent’s side. However, the child’s love is often unconditional.

Exploring this dynamic, especially when contrasting parental love with romantic love, provides a compelling essay topic. You would have the opportunity to define this type of love and explore what it looks like in day-to-day life.

Most people want to fall in love and enjoy a loving relationship, but does love have a downside? In an essay, you can explore the disadvantages of love and show how even one of life’s greatest gifts is not without its challenges.

This essay would require you to dig deep and find the potential downsides of love. However, if you give it a little thought, you should be able to discuss several. Finally, end the essay by telling the reader whether or not love is worth it despite the many challenges.

Love is blind is a popular phrase that indicates love allows someone not to see another person’s faults. But is love blind, or is it simply a metaphor that indicates the ability to overlook issues when love is at the helm.

If you think more deeply about this quote, you will probably determine that love is not blind. Rather, love for someone can overshadow their character flaws and shortcomings. When love is strong, these things fall by the wayside. Discuss this in your essay, and draw your own conclusion to decide if love is blind.

When someone falls in love, their body feels specific hormonal and chemical changes. These changes make it easier to want to spend time with the person. Yet they can be fascinating to study, and you could ask whether or not love is just chemical reactions or something more.

Grab a science book or two and see if you can explore these physiological changes from love. From the additional sweating to the flushing of the face, you will find quite a few chemical changes that happen when someone is in love.

Love feels like a positive emotion that does not have many ethical concerns, but this is not true. Several ethical questions come from the world of love. Exploring these would make for an interesting and thoughtful essay.

For example, you could discuss if it is ethically acceptable to love an object or even oneself or love other people. You could discuss if it is appropriate to enter into a physical relationship if there is no love present or if love needs to come first. There are many questions to explore with this love essay.

If you choose to love someone, is heartbreak inevitable? This question could create a lengthy essay. However, some would argue that it is because either your object of affection will eventually leave you through a break-up or death.

Yet do these actions have to cause heartbreak, or are they simply part of the process? Again, this question lends itself well to an essay because it has many aspects and opinions to explore.

Literature is full of stories of love. You could choose a genre, like mythology or science fiction, and explore the role of love in that particular genre. With this essay topic, you may find many instances where love is a vital central theme of the work.

Keep in mind that in some genres, like myths, love becomes a driving force in the plot, while in others, like historical fiction, it may simply be a background part of the story. Therefore, the type of literature you choose for this essay would significantly impact the way your essay develops.

Most people want to fall in love, but is love freeing or oppressing? The answer may depend on who your loved ones are. Love should free individuals to authentically be who they are, not tie them into something they are not.

Yet there is a side of love that can be viewed as oppressive, deepening on your viewpoint. For example, you should stay committed to just that individual when you are in a committed relationship with someone else. Is this freeing or oppressive? Gather opinions through research and compare the answers for a compelling essay.

You can easily find stories of people that did foolish things for love. These stories could translate into interesting and engaging essays. You could conclude the answer to whether or not love makes people do foolish things.

Your answer will depend on your research, but chances are you will find that, yes, love makes people foolish at times. Then you could use your essay to discuss whether or not it is still reasonable to think that falling in love is a good thing, although it makes people act foolishly at times.

Most fiction works have love in them in some way. This may not be romantic love, but you will likely find characters who love something or someone.

Use that fact to create an essay. Pick your favorite story, either through film or written works, and explore what love looks like in that work. Discuss the character development, storyline, and themes and show how love is used to create compelling storylines.

If you are interested in learning more, check out our essay writing tips !

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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Before You Write a Love Essay, Read This to Get Examples

The day will come when you can’t escape the fate of all students: You will have to write a what is love essay.

No worries:

Here you’ll find tons of love essay topics and examples. No time to read everything? Scroll down to get a free PDF with original samples.

Definition: Essay on Love

First, let’s define what is love essay?

The most common topics are:

• Definition of love
• What is love?
• Meaning of love

Why limit yourself to these hackneyed, general themes? Below, I’ll show how to make your paper on love original yet relevant to the prompt you get from teachers.

Love Essay Topics: 20 Ideas to Choose for Your Paper

Your essay on love and relationship doesn’t have to be super official and unemotional. It’s ok to share reflections and personal opinions when writing about romance.

Often, students get a general task to write an essay on love. It means they can choose a theme and a title for their paper. If that’s your case,  feel free to try any of these love essay topics:

• Exploring the impact of love on individuals and relationships.
• Love in the digital age: Navigating romance in a tech world.
• Is there any essence and significance in unconditional love?
• Love as a universal language: Connecting hearts across cultures.
• Biochemistry of love: Exploring the process.
• Love vs. passion vs. obsession.
• How love helps cope with heartbreak and grief.
• The art of loving. How we breed intimacy and trust.
• The science behind attraction and attachment.
• How love and relationships shape our identity and help with self-discovery.
• Love and vulnerability: How to embrace emotional openness.
• Romance is more complex than most think: Passion, intimacy, and commitment explained.
• Love as empathy: Building sympathetic connections in a cruel world.
• Evolution of love. How people described it throughout history.
• The role of love in mental and emotional well-being.
• Love as a tool to look and find purpose in life.
• Welcoming diversity in relations through love and acceptance.
• Love vs. friendship: The intersection of platonic and romantic bonds.
• The choices we make and challenges we overcome for those we love.
• Love and forgiveness: How its power heals wounds and strengthens bonds.

Love Essay Examples: Choose Your Sample for Inspiration

Essays about love are usually standard, 5-paragraph papers students write in college:

• One paragraph is for an introduction, with a hook and a thesis statement
• Three are for a body, with arguments or descriptions
• One last passage is for a conclusion, with a thesis restatement and final thoughts

Below are the ready-made samples to consider. They’ll help you see what an essay about love with an introduction, body, and conclusion looks like.

What is love essay: 250 words

Lao Tzu once said, “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” Indeed, love can transform individuals, relationships, and our world.

A word of immense depth and countless interpretations, love has always fascinated philosophers, poets, and ordinary individuals. This  emotion breaks boundaries and has a super power to change lives. But what is love, actually?

It’s a force we feel in countless ways. It is the warm embrace of a parent, filled with care and unwavering support. It is the gentle touch of a lover, sparking a flame that ignites passion and desire. Love is the kind words of a friend, offering solace and understanding in times of need. It is the selfless acts of compassion and empathy that bind humanity together.

Love is not confined to romantic relationships alone. It is found in the family bonds, the connections we forge with friends, and even the compassion we extend to strangers. Love is a thread that weaves through the fabric of our lives, enriching and nourishing our souls.

However, love is not without its complexities. It can be both euphoric and agonizing, uplifting and devastating. Love requires vulnerability, trust, and the willingness to embrace joy and pain. It is a delicate balance between passion and compassion, independence and interdependence.

Finally, the essence of love may be elusive to define with mere words. It is an experience that surpasses language and logic, encompassing a spectrum of emotions and actions. Love is a profound connection that unites us all, reminding us of our shared humanity and the capacity for boundless compassion.

What is love essay: 500 words

A 500-word essay on why I love you

Trying to encapsulate why I love you in a mere 500 words is impossible. My love for you goes beyond the confines of language, transcending words and dwelling in the realm of emotions, connections, and shared experiences. Nevertheless, I shall endeavor to express the depth and breadth of my affection for you.

First and foremost, I love you for who you are. You possess a unique blend of qualities and characteristics that captivate my heart and mind. Your kindness and compassion touch the lives of those around you, and I am grateful to be the recipient of your unwavering care and understanding. Your intelligence and wit constantly challenge me to grow and learn, stimulating my mind and enriching our conversations. You have a beautiful spirit that radiates warmth and joy, and I am drawn to your vibrant energy.

I love the way you make me feel. When I am with you, I feel a sense of comfort and security that allows me to be my true self. Your presence envelops me in a cocoon of love and acceptance, where I can express my thoughts, fears, and dreams without fear of judgment. Your support and encouragement inspire me to pursue my passions and overcome obstacles. With you by my side, I feel empowered to face the world, knowing I have a partner who believes in me.

I love the memories we have created together. From the laughter-filled moments of shared adventures to the quiet and intimate conversations, every memory is etched in my heart. Whether exploring new places, indulging in our favorite activities, or simply enjoying each other’s company in comfortable silence, each experience reinforces our bond. Our shared memories serve as a foundation for our relationship, a testament to the depth of our connection and the love that binds us.

I love your quirks and imperfections. Your true essence shines through these unique aspects! Your little traits make me smile and remind me of the beautiful individual you are. I love how you wrinkle your nose when you laugh, become lost in thought when reading a book, and even sing off-key in the shower. These imperfections make you human, relatable, and utterly lovable.

I love the future we envision together. We support each other’s goals, cheering one another on as we navigate the path toward our dreams. The thought of building a life together, creating a home filled with love and shared experiences, fills my heart with anticipation and excitement. The future we imagine is one that I am eager to explore with you by my side.

In conclusion, the reasons why I love you are as vast and varied as the universe itself. It is a love that defies logic and surpasses the limitations of language. From the depths of my being, I love you for the person you are, the way you make me feel, the memories we cherish, your quirks and imperfections, and the future we envision together. My love for you is boundless, unconditional, and everlasting.

A 5-paragraph essay about love

I’ve gathered all the samples (and a few bonus ones) in one PDF. It’s free to download. So, you can keep it at hand when the time comes to write a love essay.

Ready to Write Your Essay About Love?

Now that you know the definition of a love essay and have many topic ideas, it’s time to write your A-worthy paper! Here go the steps:

• Check all the examples of what is love essay from this post.
• Choose the topic and angle that fits your prompt best.
• Write your original and inspiring story.

Any questions left? Our writers are all ears. Please don’t hesitate to ask!

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Opinion It’s not so ‘terribly strange to be 70’

I turned 70 today, a young age for an older person to be, but it is the oldest I have ever been by a long shot. It has been well over six decades since I learned in arithmetic how to carry the one, and the rest has sped by like microfiche.

One big juicy, messy, hard, joyful, quiet life. That’s what my 70 years have bequeathed me.

In my teens, already drinking and drugging, I didn’t expect to see 21, and at 21, out of control, I didn’t expect to see 30. At 30, I had published three books but, as a sober friend put it, was deteriorating faster than I could lower my standards.

Then at 32, I got clean and sober, the miracle of my life from which all other blessings flow. My son was born three years later. The apple fell close to the tree: My son went off the rails, too. He and his partner had a baby at 19, which had not been in my specific plans for him, but you know the old line: If you want to make God laugh, tell Her your plans.

The baby, soon to get his learner’s permit, turned out to be the gift of a lifetime. My son got clean and sober 13 years ago, and the three of us grew up together. Then after a long search, I met this brilliant, kind writer guy and, three days after I started getting Social Security, I married him. Yesterday, I published my 20th book, called “Somehow.” Today, when I woke up, I was 70. Seventy!

I think that I am only 57, but the paperwork does not back this up. I don’t feel old, because your inside self doesn’t age. When younger people ask me when I graduated from high school and I say 1971, there’s a moment’s pause, as if this is inconceivable and I might as well have said 20 B.C. That’s when I feel my age. But I smile winsomely because, while I would like to have their skin, hearing, vision, memory, balance, stamina and focus, I would not go back even one year.

My older friends and I know a thing or two.

In general, though, I know how little I know. This is a big relief.

I know that my lifelong belief, that to be beyond reproach offers shelter and protection, is a lie. Shelter is an inside job, protection an illusion. We are as vulnerable as kittens. Love fends off the worst of it.

I know now that everyone is screwed up to some degree, and that everyone screws up. Phew. I thought for decades it was just me, that all of you had been issued owner’s manuals in second grade, the day I was home with measles. We are all figuring it out as we go. Aging is grad school.

I know a very little bit about God, or goodness, or good orderly direction. I am a believer, but I don’t trouble myself about ultimate reality, the triune nature of the deity or who shot the Holy Ghost. I say help a lot, and thanks, and are You kidding me??? Have You been drinking again, Friend?

I know about something I will call cloak hope, most obvious to me in the people who swooped in and helped me get sober in 1986, and swooped down again in 2012 for my child. In my case, an elderly sober woman named Ruby saw me in my utter, trembly hopelessness — afraid, smelly and arrogant; she swept in and took me under her wing. She wrapped her cloak around me and was the counternarrative to all I believed at 32, i.e., that I needed to figure things out, especially myself, and who to blame.

I know the beauty of shadows. Shadows show us how life can gleam in contrast. Sunshine might be dancing outside the window, but the wonder is in the variegation, with fat white clouds bunched up on the right casting shadows on the hills and gardens, and brushstrokes of gray clouds on the left and — most magical — the long narrow shawl of fog right across the top of the ridge. The day is saying, Who knows how the weather will morph, but meanwhile so much is possible. And that is life asserting itself.

I know life will assert itself. Knowing this means I have a shot at some measure of pliability, like a willow tree that is maybe having an iffy day.

I know everything is in flux, that all things will turn into other things. I am uncomfortable with this but less so than in younger years. Michael Pollan wrote, “Look into a flower, and what do you see? Into the very heart of nature’s double nature — that is, the contending energies of creation and dissolution, the spiring toward complex form and the tidal pull away from it.” So I don’t sweat feeling a little disoriented some days.

I have grown mostly unafraid of my own death, except late at night when I head to WebMD and learn that my symptoms are probably cancer.

I know and am constantly aware of how much we have all lost and are in danger of losing — I am not going to name names — and am awash with gratitude for lovely, funny things that are still here and still work.

I know how to let go now, mostly, although it is not a lovely Hallmark process, and when well-wishers from my spiritual community exhort me to let go and let God, I want to Taser them. But I know that when I finally tell a best friend of my thistly stuckness, the telling is the beginning of release. You have to learn to let go. Otherwise, you get dragged, or you become George Costanza’s father pounding the table and shouting, “Serenity now!”

I know that people and pets I adore will keep dying, and it will never be okay, and then it will, sort of, mostly. I know the cycle is life, death, new life, and I think this is a bad system, but it is the one currently in place.

I know I will space out and screw up right and left as I head out on this book tour, say things I wish I could take back, forget things, sometimes onstage, and lose things. I just will.

I recently went to Costa Rica, where my husband was giving a spiritual retreat, and I forgot my pants. My pants! And last month, I went to give a talk at a theater two states away and forgot to bring any makeup. I am quite pale, almost light blue in some places — think of someone from “Game of Thrones” with a head cold — and ghostly under bright lights. When I discovered this omission, I was wearing only tinted moisturizer, powder on my nose and light pink lip gloss.

I gave myself an inspiring pep talk on my inner beauty, the light within. And then I had a moment of clarity: I asked the person driving me to the venue to stop at CVS, where I bought blush and a lipstick that was accidentally brighter and glossier than I usually wear. I looked fabulous. Age is just a number when you still know how to shine. And I shone.

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