,
First impressions. I've been thinking about this concept a lot lately, as I am not entering my second year here in Bend, Oregon, and am realizing how powerful the first year was when it came to meeting new people. The gift of a first impression is that in all actuality, you can be almost anybody. The
catch, however, is continuing to be that person, as eventually the true you is revealed one way or another.
It's easier to just be yourself from the beginning, and that is the gift of meeting people for the first time. When you have the opportunity
to rebuild a life from what feels like at times the ground up, you can be who you truly are without your old, former selves, holding you back.
While it is necessary for each of us to examine where we've come from, the lessons we've learned along the way, and recognize
why we act and think the way we do, too often we disable ourselves by holding on to these former personas. And they are, now, in the present, former personas. We all can grow, and should take the opportunity to grow, and therefore, outgrow who we were yesterday to become more fully ourselves today.
And
while in my situation, I began my life again in an entirely new town, (yes, albeit, still in Oregon), it was very much a fresh start. That fresh start in a new location in many ways made it easier, but a fresh start doesn't need to require a complete uprooting from where you call home.
Why not
begin attending a new activity, event and reaching out to new people? Why not introduce your new and current self to them? Why not, as was discussed in this week's episode of the podcast, let go of the selves that are no longer serving you? Because you see, you do hold the power to change the quality of your life. In many ways it begins with how you perceive yourself and requires discipline to not revert back to old, unhelpful habits, ways of thinking, ways of talking that did not serve you
for the better.
Consider for a moment who you are today and who you were a year ago. I have no doubt you have grown and progressed in some fashion. However, are you still hanging on to old habits that are part of the old you that no longer serves you? Why not let those habits go? Why not begin to live your life in a manner that is more truly in alignment with who you are now? Only the quality of your
life will benefit, and that is absolutely all the reason to let go.
Well, in just a few days time, speaking of letting go of what is no longer serving you, the new blog redesign will be revealed. I absolutely cannot wait to show you what we've been up to. In the meantime, the blog was busy this week with a sale
not to be missed (Shopbop's end of season), a beautiful Brooklyn townhouse to find endless chic, yet simple sophistication and street style from Paris Fashion Week just to get you started. As well, be sure to check out this week's This & That which is full of books, cookbooks and the Barefoot Contessa.
Thank you as always for subscribing, and I do hope you have a wonderful week. Until next week, I'll see you on the blog!
Shannon
