,
One of the most serendipitous events is discovering exactly what you've been looking for for what feels like an immeasurable amount of time. Such was the case when I began reading a book I mentioned on the blog's weekly This & That
post a couple of weeks ago. Happiness: A Philosopher's Guide, which was a best-seller in France and then Europe in 2013 and just last year was translated for the states, puts into words what I have felt about the concept of happiness since I began daydreaming about it in high-school, doodling phrases of what happiness is on my self-made
class folders.
It sounds silly, but as I captured in an Instagram pic (seen below), the basic premise of happiness that Frédéric Lenoir asserts is the idea of quality over quantity, something, as you know, that is the foundation of living simply
luxuriously. Now what the quality will be in your life will vary based on you, but it will be a mixture of pleasure and purpose. That . . . that . . . is precisely why we must get to know ourselves, step away from the white noise of society and truly listen. Who are we? What spurs us on? What ignites our soul? What perks up our ears?
Needless to say, I highly recommend the book, and I have a feeling it will be a source of much inspiration in upcoming posts and podcasts. So be sure to stay tuned.
Speaking of the podcast, the continuation of February's theme "Creating a Social Well-Being of Strength & Compassion" dove into relationships and identifying those red flags that perhaps we sometimes dismiss but shouldn't. And with NYFW wrapping up yesterday and moving to London, I was thinking trends which inspired this week's Outfit of the
Week.
So back to the idea of true happiness. If you already know what stirs your soul, makes you dance and sparks you to smile without editing, why not enjoy doing more of that this weekend? I was reminded this week that sometimes we have to be
kinder, gentler to ourselves, especially when we don't think we need to. Often simple shifts and unexpected changes can displace our equilibrium just enough that we're more off-center than realize. And if that is the case for you, as I came to realize it was for me, pamper yourself a little bit more this weekend, tend to yourself and let yourself enjoy it. Let yourself be happy . . . regardless of how long your to-do list is.
Thank you for subscribing. I hope you have an amazing weekend. Until next week, I'll see you on the blog!
Shannon
Frederic Lenoir
