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Living life versus existing. 

Recently, I have been thinking about the difference between these two states of being - living vs. existing. Understandably, one is active while the other is more passive. 

In a recent conversation for the podcast with author and Fashion Director of The Times London Anna Murphy, we talked about the idea, and necessity, of being the subject of our lives, not the object of life for others. This is especially important for women who, as she writes about in her book Destination Fabulous, are by default objectified nearly as soon as we are born into the world, but especially as young women and onward. So to consciously make this shift from object to subject is not only significant, but significantly powerful to an improvement in the quality of our lives when we do so. This is an example of living versus existing. 

This concept danced in my head yet again as I have been pottering about in my garden frequently this past month, and just yesterday, after picking up some blueberry bushes as well as some walkables and a couple more herbaceous perennials was reminded that when we place our plants in the ground that we hope will continue to return year after year, and in that vein, return with more and more maturity, it is not guaranteed that they will. But we act, we purchase, we plant, and we, if we are diligent garden parents, take care of them as they need - the proper soil, light, pruning, etc., but even then, we are given no guarantee, but we put the odds in our favor. And if each year, they continue to return and provide the beauty and distinction we had hoped for in our garden, we are reminded that living - in this case taking action in the form of choosing to planting and then doing so - is better than existing. For to exist is to never put a plant in the ground, to stare at pavement, at barren soil that is lacking for care, and this need not be the case. How we change our world is by acting. However, nothing that we do is guaranteed the result in our mind's eye, but what is guaranteed is that we are giving a chance for what we invest in to flourish and produce something that will bring awe, delight and so many wonderful surprises. 

And so, without question, I choose to live rather than just exist, and it is my hope that you are making this choice as well. In making this choice over and over again, it inevitably involves at least a tinge of fear. Why? Because, yet again, the outcome is not guaranteed to be what we desire, let alone a positive one in any way, but nothing will change, and in fact, our existing state may even deteriorate, if we do not do something. So why not do something that tickles our curiosity? What is not guaranteed is tomorrow, but by living versus existing, we make today and the potential of future tomorrows that will be our 'todays' reveal themselves to be something quite wonderful. 

In this week's newsletter, Anglophiles are in for a treat because May always includes the many posts that were shared during TSLL's Annual British Week. With 15 posts shared and six giveaways during seven days, the week was quite special and a wonderful time to celebrate all things British. As well, you will find three new podcast episodes, two with special guests who have written wonderful books I highly recommend. And in the monthly gardening post for TOP Tier Members, you will discover for the first time a video of my garden captured during the past two weeks. Along with that, two Style posts, multiple Monday Motivational posts and still much more. I do hope you enjoy perusing and catching up on all that was shared during this past month on the blog. 

Thank you for choosing to subscribe to the monthly newsletter. Wishing you a wonderful unofficial start to summer if you live in the northern hemisphere and a wonderful new month for everyone. Until the final day in June (Friday), the 30th, I will see you on the blog!

—Shannon

~To explore every post you wish to read, be sure to become a member to one of the two tiers - BASIC or TOP as non-members can only read five non-exclusive posts a month (it will reset on the first of each month - tomorrow!).