The Simply Luxurious Life's Newsletter 51

Published: Fri, 06/03/11

"I've got a theory that if you give 100 percent all of the time, somehow things will work out in the end."

~Larry Bird

No. 51 Friday, June 3, 2011

s it is the time of year for graduations and commencement addresses, I always find this to be an opportunity for anyone, no matter whether they are graduating, celebrating someone's graduation or not, to pause and reflect on the possibilities that still lay ahead.

A quote I recently heard as advice given to graduates was, "Life is about choices and the result of those choices. Good choices will cause positive results; bad choices the opposite." And while this was simple, common sense advice to graduates, I find it to be a reminder to us all.

So often we wonder if all of the hard work and diligence, the intention to do our best at all times, will ever pay off. And while it might seem that it is slow in coming, I can assure you, that had you not done your best, you would see far more difficult and less promising situations.

The key is to put yourself in the best place possible, so that at any given moment when an opportunity presents itself, you can pounce. Unlike someone who has made choices that were not productive, but were instead hurtful and harming, you've made the decision repeatedly to do your best and that is the fuel you will need to help you make it to where you want to go.

The tricky part, the unknown part, is that none of us necessarily know when the payment for our effort will come due. None of us know precisely when the door will be cracked open ever so far so that we might, with the preparation we've made, be able to pry it open to see all that it has to offer.

So as the many graduates around the world are being inspired, use the words that are being shared to inspire you to day in and day out always do your best because you never know when all of that hard work will pay off.

Why Not . . . Work Hard?

In this week's newsletter, there are a couple of posts that help to set you at ease and share ways to find a way to relax at any given moment of your busy week. With Monday's 17 Benefits of Being Yourself and Tuesday's 30 Ways to Find Tranquility in Your Day, I hope you find something that rings true and is applicable to creating a more pleasurable day to day routine. And on the flip side, when you do have to be at the top of your game, making the most of the time you're given is key to reaching even greater success. In Wednesday's Why Not . . . Be More Productive? you'll find 12 ways to create a more effective approach to achieving the productivity we all want regarding our professional and personal goals.

I don't know about you, but I am very thankful for the arrival of the weekend. Time to visit friends and family and slow the pace down a bit. Time to hopefully get a peek at the sun and welcome this first weekend of June. Have a wonderful weekend, and until next week, I'll see you on the blog.

-Shannon

EXTRA FASHION & DESIGN POSTS

Rachel Zoe - Resort 2012

Rue Magazine - Issue 5

Shoe Fix: A Luxury & A Bargain

Paris, Baby! - Book Review

Style Inspiration

Articles from Around the Web You Might Enjoy

*Cell-Out - New (Old) Ways to Stay in Touch - Vogue Daily

*A Crazy Good Cobbler - The Blender (Williams & Sonoma blog)

*10 Ways to Eat Healthy without Breaking the Bank

*Power Living: The Balance of Life

This Week's

Style Suggestion

Sales on spring clothing are beginning to pop up everywhere, and Net-a-Porter is having one you won't want to miss. With many items marked down 50%, so many of the items I have showcased here are now more than ever at very reasonable prices. Today, I have gathered together sale items to create an outfit that can carry you from mid-week errands to casual outdoor afternoon entertaining. After all, having a simple short trench adds that extra bit of chic to any outfit.