Let’s face it. We are all shallow. We are affected by first impressions, very often visual. How a person carries himself, how he dresses, and how he speaks.
The Advantage of Looks
For Generation Z especially, influencers have big followings and earn big bucks because they look good and communicate well. Even AI influencers have been created.
Practically all in the entertainment industry start out as young and good-looking. People equate good looks with kindness, goodness and trustworthiness. Actors and actresses past their prime or are less good looking are often cast in secondary roles or as villains, not protagonists and heroes.
If the World is Blind
Let’s imagine a parallel universe, where everyone is blind. The voice then becomes more important. What we say, how we behave towards others is key, not our appearance.
We will not be spending money and time beautifying ourselves. Beauty consultants and aesthetic doctors would be out of jobs. Many industries catering to looks will not exist. Even our malls will have a different concept of retailers.
But we are sighted people, so that parallel universe does not exist. Or does it?
Parallel Universe of the Blind
I feel that as we age, as we lose our looks, or if we did not have good looks in the first place, the world is akin to the parallel universe of blind people. People barely notice plain people, or worse, old people. They don’t think old people have any value. Those eyes that followed you when you were young and beautiful don’t acknowledge your existence anymore.
People then respond to us because of our attitudes and behaviors. People will listen to you if you add value, if you have knowledge and wisdom and experience. In fact, you can earn respect and impress even more people as you age, if you become kinder, wiser, more tolerant and more magnanimous.
You may no longer be beautiful, and even if the world is not blind, you can impress people. That is the ultimate success, a life well lived.
(The title is from a saying by Boonaa Mohammed)
lingsinglin
Dr Ling Sing Lin is a medical doctor by training. She worked in MOH HQ for many years, in policy making and administrative positions, until her retirement.
