,
It happened this week that I had the opportunity to do something I've
been wanting to do for quite some time. It so happened that summer travel plans for a few of my neighbors and myself all were catching their breaths as we all found ourselves at home on our quiet street this week. And so, I grabbed my chance to invite them over for a mid-week dinner party.
Doing my best to follow my own advice for a successfully hosted event (cooking itinerary made -check, background music prepped - check, a glass of wine 30 minutes prior to help the host relax - check, check), I welcomed my neighbors I feel fortunate to live amongst into my home and the evening exceeded my expectations. Trust me, in saying this, I am not patting
myself on the back as my dogs were overly friendly and one dish didn't live up to my expectations despite giving it a few test-runs days prior, just to name a few oopses, but what I most enjoyed was the conversation.
To walk away four hours later from a dinner table
having learned more about history, books to read, shops to visit, places to travel to and so much more, all void of gossip and discussions of safe or nosy topics, was absolutely delightful. And I owe it all to my guests. I found myself sitting back in my cozy dining room chair, sipping my glass of wine and soaking it all up.
And so it was one of life's realities confirmed for me as the evening unfolded that the people we surround ourselves with can drain us or they can uplift and inspire us. Such is the case that this particular evening was most certainly inspiring.
What could possibly be inspiring and uplifting about the issues I mentioned above? some may be asking. At the core, I was able to spend time with people who regardless of life's unpredictable circumstances or age, choose to have an insatiable love and curiosity for life, and in so doing they elevate the quality of their lives.
Each of our one and only lives will unfold as per the attitude, preparation and tenacity we are willing to invest. Life isn't out to hurt us or destroy us, but neither is it there to give us everything we want. Life is what we make it - clichéd, but true.
We can fall prey to the cacophony of voices that remind us what life will be when we're 30, 50, 80 and so on, or we can rewrite the rules. By doing our homework, by finding the courage to step into the unknown from time to time, we can create a magnificent life tailored to our tastes each and every day of our lives.
On that note, this week's Why Not . . .? discusses what true luxury is and pinpoints what it is not. At time, the word luxury can be tossed about
carelessly, but regarding the premise of the blog, understanding what true luxury is is crucial to finding contentment.
And as promised, in this week's newsletter, you'll find photos, lessons learned and
recommendations of things to do and see in New York City following my trip last week to the Big Apple.
So without further delay, I do hope you enjoy this week's newsletter, and have a lovely last weekend in
July. Until next week, I'll see you on the blog.
