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I find myself in more of a contented state than I have found myself before at the start of a new year. Perhaps because it is more contentment than I have felt, the newness is something I am appreciating gradually. I am partly disappointed in myself for not instantly feeling appreciative, but also am reminding myself that anything new, even if it is what we have sought and strove
to attain intentionally, takes time to get used to, takes time for us to realize it is indeed true, and yes, is our new reality. Ah, but once it fully soaks in, which it will in the most ordinary of moments, the buoyant, jubilant feeling you will feel and from now moving forward understand as worth the journey, and thus how to maintain it, will be pure delight paired with deep gratitude.
Part of my contentment comes from a realization that everything in our lives is impermanent, so I find myself savoring even more in a single span of a day, (and that is coming from someone who for some time has been working diligently to savor life's everyday moments! :)).
I began reading a book I was most interested in when its publication was announced - Older, but Better, but Older, and while there are many wonderful laugh-out-loud observations and nodding-of-the-head moments, there are also observations that I am thankful to
have finally discovered and don't define them as epitomizing "old" pejoratively which the book suggests. In fact, I wish I had discovered them when I was much younger ("You know things aren't what they used to be when you start finding biographies fascinating." or "When you're just excited to go home."). I am thankful for the years that have passed, for these ahas. I am
thankful for the lessons I have had the opportunity to learn and then the time to apply and see how indeed life can be improved if we choose to do so. So no, this book is not entirely one I love, but I have found much to enjoy. Even after the few points as mentioned above, I kept reading the book, because it is a playful book, not to be taken too seriously, and then I was reminded why I enjoy Caroline de Maigret and Sophie Mas' writing, "You no longer demand perfection because you've
learned that we're all fallible." The book is full of intentional contradictions meant to make us awaken to the reality that life is impossible to figure out, but damn, it sure it fun trying, and more importantly, to always keep in mind George Burns' words of insight, " You can't help getting older, but you don't have to get old."
So as I type away in my tiny oceanside cottage with my boys napping after a morning walk on the beach, the wind whips madly, the steady sprinkle feels to be needles piercing your skin, true contentment is being realized, and whatever I discover I should hone in on with this new year and cultivate fully will be just right for 2020. In other words, I am taking the pressure off a bit, just a
bit, and trying to breathe more deeply, be present more fully, and truly savor this amazing ride of life that will only go on for so long. But I am determined to make this one and only life a most enjoyable and worthwhile ride, most certainly.
On a blog schedule's note: With each new year's arrival, I take a moment during my annual week off to assess what is working well for the blog as well as for my daily life, and as we move into 2020 largely, everything will remain the same: same weekly blogging schedule, same Friday delivery to your inbox of TSLL's free newsletter, the return of the annual British and French
Weeks, the third season of the vodcast and the podcast will adhere to the same schedule it had last year. The only slight change will be each Tuesday of the blog's regular postings will be dedicated to Style Inspiration which will rotate between the Outfit of the Week post and a Style Inspiration post, and Thursdays on the blog will be solely dedicated to Decor Inspiration (Outfit of the Week used to be shared on Thursdays). Other than that, what you have come to know
and enjoy will be posted and shared exactly as you have become accustomed.
Now to a jammed-packed TSLL newsletter as we are returning after one week off, which means it was the end of the year and that means the Top Posts of the Year were shared! Thank you so much for taking the time each week to peruse the most recent posts, and do so at your leisure, and when something inspires you or speaks to you, I so appreciate hearing from you whether it is a
direct email or in the blog comments or on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter. Your time and interest is more appreciated than I think you will ever be able to know, and I wish you most sincerely a deeply contented 2020. Until next week, I’ll see you on the blog.
