RITUALS
Stella & Sarah
03 / 10 / 21
Thoughts on beauty, duality and balance; from the perspective of two women, daughter and mother.
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SARAH
"I’m from London, originally. But I’m American and live in Los Angeles, working mainly in television production. I see human beings as rather wonderful; and, as a women, I think everything about us is lovely. Beauty can be visually interesting but not always important. Some people are beautiful because they have a look that is unusually striking. I think humor is more essential, depending on the context. Beauty comes and goes. There are fashions in beauty, too, but that doesn’t seem interesting to me. If duality is about balance then there is beauty in that, perhaps.
It’s hard to find balance as one moves through life. There are so many things that push us this way and that. Between Stella and myself, there is a balance that shifts with the passing of time."
STELLA
"I was born and still live in Los Angeles. From the age of six, I was convinced I wanted to be an actress. My mom was producing a movie in Italy and I would often go to set with her. It was a period piece and there were all these women in ornate 19th century dresses and then suddenly they'd lift up their frocks to reveal dowdy running shoes and I just thought that was the best thing ever. I now work in the non-profit sector and spent the last four years in development at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles, before moving to Baby2Baby this year. Ultimately, I find I’m most fulfilled when my work is having a direct and positive impact on the lives of others.
I see beauty in perfectly crafted sentences, in good jokes, occasionally in the mirror. Beauty is encompassed in each of us, in how we conduct ourselves in the world. On a personal level, I’ve come to realize less is more when it comes to beauty. Though the amount of work that goes into ‘less’ can always be deceptive. On a global level, I think beauty trends come and go, but those who buck the trends are always the most interesting. I think being able to find humor in life is more essential than beauty. Without humor, so much of the world would be simply unbearable.
"I’m not sure that the perfect balance even exists, and I worry that women have been duped into thinking it does. We spend so much time working to attain this ephemeral idea of harmony that could make our lives 'ideal', but I think it’s the functioning in utter chaos that makes us interesting." — Stella
Duality implies complexity and our unique complexities are what make us beautiful. I find that I'm a myriad of complexities.
As similar as we are, my mom and I — our narratives could not be more different. My narrative has unequivocally influenced how I see the world. I think this can sometimes come as a shock to both of us, though we complement each other most of the time.
Things have felt topsy-turvy for so long, it’s hard to remember seeing balance in the world. I’m not sure that the perfect balance even exists, and I worry that women have been duped into thinking it does. We spend so much time working to attain this ephemeral idea of harmony that could make our lives 'ideal', but I think it’s the functioning in utter chaos that makes us interesting. If I had to choose between beauty, duality and balance; despite being somewhat esoteric, I would choose duality. I prefer things a little messy."
Stella Stahl and her mother, Sarah C., photographed by Drew Escriva. Learn more about Baby2Baby here.