We are living in an era where appearances often carry more weight than authenticity. A time when the beauty of the cover of the book receives all the attention, while the pages within—full of depth, struggle, and truth—go unread, unappreciated, and misunderstood.
It’s not that we no longer value meaning; it’s that we’ve become conditioned to prioritize what’s visible. To celebrate the performance, not the person. To reward the polished version, even if the substance behind it is hollow.
We Mourn Loudly, Yet Love Quietly
Funerals today are often theatrical—grand events with carefully chosen flowers, emotional speeches, and formal dress codes. And yet, the love we gave the deceased while they were alive often pales in comparison.
We cry the loudest when it’s too late—when nothing can be changed, when no words can reach them. But when people are alive, we hesitate. We stay silent when they need encouragement, whisper when they crave connection. We save our love for eulogies instead of everyday expressions.
Weddings Over Marriages
We spend months—sometimes years—planning the perfect wedding. The dress, the décor, the playlist, the photos. It’s all meticulously curated for one spectacular day. But how much time do we spend preparing for the marriage itself?
The daily effort it takes to listen, to compromise, to show up for each other in moments that won’t be posted online—that’s the real work. We’ve learned to build weddings, but often neglect to build marriages.
Aesthetic Food, Empty Nutrition
Our meals are now designed for the camera. Perfectly plated, color-coordinated, filter-ready. But behind the visuals, there’s often little nourishment. We’ve prioritized presentation over health, flavor, and care.
We consume what looks good, not what is good. And this mindset extends beyond food—into how we engage with life itself.
Our food looks Instagram-worthy, perfectly plated with colors and shine, but the actual nourishment—the authenticity, the health, the flavor of real care—is secondary. We consume what looks good, not what is good.
Fit Bodies, Starving Souls
In a culture of gym selfies, filters, and beauty standards, our obsession with external appearance has left our inner world neglected. We chase perfection in mirrors and on screens, but many of us walk around spiritually malnourished, emotionally exhausted, and mentally disconnected.
We look alive, but inside we feel empty. The soul—the most essential part of us—goes unfed. We’ve forgotten how to rest, reflect, and be whole.
It’s Time to Turn the Page
This is the paradox of our time: we are surrounded by beauty, yet starving for meaning. We have endless tools for connection but feel lonelier than ever. We know how to perform but have forgotten how to be present. We have mastered looking the part but struggle with being it.
But we can choose differently.
- Read the book, not just admire the cover.
- Love people now, not just after they’re gone.
- Build the relationship, not just the ceremony.
- Nourish your soul, not just your image.
- Choose meaning over aesthetics.
One day, all the packaging will fade. The cameras will stop. The filters will vanish. And what remains will be the truth of who you are—the love you gave, the healing you nurtured, the presence you carried, the life you truly lived.
And that, not the performance, will be your legacy.And perhaps most tragically, we obsess over how our bodies look in the mirror or on camera—filters, gym selfies, fashion trends—yet many of us are walking around with starving souls. We look alive but feel empty. We have forgotten how to feed our inner world, how to heal, how to be still and whole on the inside.
This is the paradox of our time: we are surrounded by beauty but starving for meaning.
It’s time we turned the page. Read the book, not just admire the cover. Love people while they are still here. Build marriages, not just weddings. Nourish our bodies and our souls. One day, all the packaging will fade—and only the content will remain.