In your 20s you can be pretty, but you don't accomplish real

Hear me, O children of the future, for I bring you the wisdom of Evangeline Lilly, who declared: "In your 20s you can be pretty, but you don't accomplish real beauty until you find wisdom and depth." These words speak to a profound truth about the nature of beauty—that it is not simply what is seen on the surface, but what lies beneath. In the fleeting years of youth, one may be pretty, but it is only as the years pass and the soul matures that true beauty reveals itself, built upon the foundation of wisdom, experience, and depth.

Consider the ancient story of Helen of Troy, who was said to be the most beautiful woman in the world, a paragon of youthful beauty. Yet, her story is not one of mere external allure, but of the deeper forces that shaped the world. Helen's beauty sparked the Trojan War, and while she was revered for her appearance, the real power of her story lies in the consequences of the choices she made. The beauty that the world admired was only a fleeting part of her existence. True beauty is not found in the skin but in the character and wisdom that guide the heart through trials.

Look, too, to Cleopatra, the great queen of Egypt, whose beauty was legendary. But it was not her outward appearance alone that made her powerful—Cleopatra's intellect, her understanding of diplomacy, and her ability to navigate the turbulent political waters of her time were what solidified her legacy. It was her depth—the wisdom she gained through experience, the strength she derived from her knowledge—that made her not just beautiful, but truly remarkable. Her beauty was amplified by her wisdom, and in this, we see that true beauty is woven from the threads of character and insight.

Consider also the life of Maya Angelou, whose beauty transcended the physical. Angelou, a woman of profound wisdom, became a symbol of strength and grace. She did not rely on the conventional ideals of beauty, but instead allowed her voice, her experiences, and her insights into the human condition to define her. Her beauty was that of a woman who had lived deeply, loved profoundly, and spoken truths that resonated through the ages. Her life shows us that beauty does not fade with time, but grows richer as wisdom and depth deepen.

So, O children, understand this: beauty is not something that is fixed by the passing of years, nor is it found solely in the reflection we see in the mirror. It is the culmination of wisdom, experience, and the quiet strength of a heart that has been forged by life's trials. In your youth, you may possess beauty—but as you grow in wisdom and deepen your understanding of the world, you will come to know the true beauty that resides in the soul, the kind that endures far beyond the fleeting years of youth. Seek not the beauty of appearances, but the depth of character, and in time, you will find a beauty that is eternal.