A couple in their 70s participated in a nude photo shoot to prove that beauty is diverse and that love endures.
Despite all of the horrors that have taken place in recent weeks, there is still good to cling to in life. And, it might be argued, one of the most powerful and meaningfulblessings in life is love.
Police might be shooting – and killing – African-American individuals at unprecedented rates and furious citizens might be retaliating in unacceptable ways, but the good-intentioned spirit of people is what endures.
The love that has broken through the jagged edges in life and shaped meaningful memories are what matters most, and that’s exactly what a couple’s recent photo shoot helps draw light to.
Gerry, 75, and Darwin, 70, have loved each other for over twenty years, and it seems evident their bond is as strong as ever. They might not depict conventional beauty, but in each other’s eyes, they are perfect.
The beautiful example of unconditional love is what has resulted in the series, shot by photographer Jade Beall of Arizona, to go viral.
The photographer wrote on Instagram, where the photos have been liked over 34,000 times and shared by more than 18,000 people:
“I REFUSE TO ACCEPT THE WIDE SPREAD (MOSTLY WESTERN) HUMAN BELIEF SYSTEM IN REGARDS TO WHAT IS BEAUTIFUL. WHY DO WE ACCEPT TO BELIEVE THAT ONE THING MUST BE MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN ANOTHER? WHY CANNOT WE EMBRACE A MILLION-BILLION DEFINITIONS OF BEAUTIFUL?”
After the pictures went viral, Gerry wrote Jade a beautiful letter:
“WE WANTED TO SHOW THAT WRINKLES AND AGING, SAGGING BODY PARTS ARE NOT BARRIERS TO LOVE UNLESS YOU LET THEM BE,” HE WROTE. “LIKE FINE WINE OR GOOD CHEESE, WE ARE MORE FULLY OURSELVES AND MORE FULL OF LOVE IN OUR 70S THAN WE EVER WERE IN OUR 30S AND 40S.”
Humans are inherently flawed, and that is our biggest downfall. However, it is through the mistakes in life and perceived shortcomings in ourselves that we may manifest positive change and evolve into better.
Not all that is happening in the world is good right now, but good will surely come out of it. That is, if people choose to look for what’s worth loving in themselves and the rest of humanity.
