Many facets of humanity are quite fascinating. For example, throughout the world, men and woman are very different—culture, language, customs, skin color, etc. At the same time, however, human beings are quite the same. Everyone gets colds and sick in general. Everyone is made up of skin, bones, and the same internal organs (excluding reproductive organs). We’re all subject to fractures. No matter where you go, women are built the same way, as men from different countries all have the same “plumbing”. Barring any premature tragedy, everyone gets old. The skin stretches, wrinkles come and eventually, we all die.
As with aging, everyone matures at a different rate. Kids reach puberty in their adolescence, usually ranging in the 10 – 13 year range, save the outliers that experience puberty before or after this range. Some kids develop quicker than others. For some reason, kids today are developing a hell of a lot quicker than when I was growing up. Some of these kids on the various social media today physically look much older than they really are. If you look at some of them, they look like they’re 18, when in reality they’re like 13 or 14. Personally, I think it’s the growth hormones put in milk, for example, that speeds up this process (the hormones are given to the cows to produce more and more milk).
Back to aging. Not everyone ages well or grows old gracefully. Go look up pictures of Axl Rose (of Guns & Roses) from the 1980s. Many women say he was quite attractive. Then go find current pictures. Is this the same man? Ugh. I guess that’s what the rock and roll lifestyle, lots of alcohol and drugs can do to a person. Another example is Lindsay Lohan. Though in her early 30s, due to drugs and alcohol, she looks twenty years older. And who could forget Steven Tyler? Sure, he’s 73 years old, but he looks like someone’s hipster grandma. Who would’ve ever thought that “Dude Looks Like a Lady” would become a self-fulfilling prophecy?
It’s not just celebrities. I remember some of the people I went to school with. I have many of them on my Facebook. In high school, some of them were cheerleaders or part of the “social” groups, always had a boyfriend or girlfriend. Some were pretty good looking, others were downright hot at the time. Fast forward 30 years, and now, these same people pushing 50 look like “what the fuck happened to you?” Their physical appearance is damn-near unrecognizable. The distinguishing features are there, albeit hard to spot. Of course, I’m not pointing out anyone in particular—that would be messed up.
Then there’s the other side of the coin. Some people out there are like a fine wine, and just get better with age. Some people get to their 40s, 50s, and beyond, and look better than they did in their 20s. I can think of a few right off the top of my head who fit this category. These are like the “Ugly Duckling” that were awkward in their youth, but really came out of their shell and became quite attractive. Those “late bloomers” who no one would’ve given a second thought about in school became the ones that people crave or lust after years later. I remember reading about a couple who went to school together, but really didn’t know each other. They knew of each other, but never talked or hung out. Many years down the road, their paths crossed by chance, and they fell madly in love with each other. Not that long after meeting, they managed to get things in order and moved in together. I don’t recall if they married, but they were a very happy couple for many, many years afterwards.
Personalities are something else that can be fascinating. For how similar people are, everyone has a distinct personality. Even identical twins are distinct in this way. You’ve probably heard of the conjoined twins Abigail and Brittany Hensel. This is one of the extreme cases of twins being different. They practically share one body, but are two separate individuals. One likes things the other doesn’t.
Sometimes a person’s personality is in complete conflict with their appearance. A person can be rather homely physically, but have a heart of gold. Others can be drop-dead gorgeous and everyone fawn over them, but they are total bitches and assholes. They act as if they’re God’s gift to humanity and that everyone owes them something🤬🖕. I really hate these “diva” types, and women aren’t the only divas out there. Many guys can be, as well. Some examples of these diva types in Hollywood are the likes of Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian, Beyoncé, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Tom Cruise, etc. From demanding a restaurant be cleared so they could dine alone, to only using Versace towels ($400 a pop!) to wipe sweat off their face to demanding a server go across the street to the Starbucks to get their favorite coffee, amongst other bizarre or asinine requests, people like these think they’re entitled and owed the world just because “they’re hot and they know it”.
Besides their personality, people have a certain set of qualities or attributes that sets them apart from everyone else. Some give practical advice, others are good listeners. One might have a booming voice of opinion and the gift of persuasion. Yet another can act as a calming force in the midst of tension, or a voice of reason. It’s also said that everyone has a gift they can contribute to someone else. It is also said that when two people who are destined to be together in a relationship, whether by the grace of God, fate, nature, or whatever “beyond” force you want to call it, they will know, and a flame will have been sparked, which will not fade or die out, but get stronger each day, no matter what obstacles manifest themselves.
What do you think? Are kids maturing too quickly today? Do you think that soulmates exist? Is love a real thing, and that two people out of the blue can fall in love and be happy? Feel free to comment.
Always remember to check in on your loved ones, especially in the recent heatwave that has gripped a lot of the country. Stay in the A/C and get out of the heat when possible. Drink your water or Gatorade, and above all, be safe and be well.
Ray’s Rants of the Week 