Keep Your Life Simple

Good Morning Everyone!

Are you enjoying the heat yet? It has certainly felt like a sauna here in Indy this week—goodness gracious! I’ve been spending most of my time indoors, doing my best to stay cool.

On a brighter note, my David Austin roses are blooming again! They are absolutely beautiful, and I can’t believe I’m getting a second round of blooms. It’s such a lovely surprise.

My newsletter went out this week, and I hope you all received it. I also hope you find a little inspiration in this month’s Velvet Morning feature and suggestions.

photo credit: Tallwood Country House

I am still reading Alexandra’s book Living Beautifully Together. In a recent chapter, she shared 20 Points to Remember and discussed how to keep life simple. We may already know many of these ideas, but sometimes a gentle reminder is exactly what brings us back to living a beautiful life.

The first point is to make dates with yourself. Plan ahead and mark your calendar, blocking out time to be alone. I have made it my mission to do this every month. It’s all part of planning for beauty.

Reward yourself when you accomplish a goal. After working hard under the pressure of a deadline, treat yourself to dinner at your favorite restaurant or schedule a relaxing massage. You’re more likely to face challenges with equanimity when you have a reward waiting on the other side.

Work smarter, not harder. Tackle your most difficult tasks during the part of the day when you feel the most refreshed. Use the times when your creative energy is lower to putter, file, organize, or prepare for future projects. And don’t be afraid to quit while you’re ahead—you can always come back refreshed.

Go to bed one hour earlier. (I think we’re all working on this one!) Waking up an hour before you have to, to enjoy the quiet of the morning, gives you a head start on the day. That one peaceful hour spent alone can be worth far more than three hours later in the day, fractured by interruptions.

photo credit: Pinterest

Be in training for life. Exercise makes you feel better and gives you energy. Dance, jog, walk, play a sport, or swim. Move every part of your body that can move—regularly. And treat your brain as you would a muscle; it needs exercise, too.

Create a positive image of the day. Research continues to show that optimists handle stress better than pessimists. We need to develop the habit of being kind to ourselves so those actions become our own system of checks and balances for the mind-body connection.

Hold high expectations for your day. Cultivate your vitality and persevere. The effort you make today will benefit you tomorrow. By stretching yourself and giving your best each day, you’ll surprise yourself with how much you can accomplish. Take risks in new areas. Success is achieved through a series of thoughtful, creative steps, guided by a commitment to excellence. Today is going to be your day.

Lastly, don’t try to have it all. Define what you truly want—what you value most—and let your actions reflect those priorities. Enjoy the process of all your activities, and make joy a high priority. Learn how much you can realistically handle, then move forward with confidence. When you’re working toward your personal goals, you often handle stress more gracefully because you’re focused on what truly matters. Take time throughout your day to pause and appreciate the wonder and beauty of life.

I hope these reminders from Alexandra have inspired you today. Sometimes we don’t need to learn something new—we simply need to be reminded of what we already know. May you find time for yourself, care for your body and mind, and embrace the beauty that’s waiting in each day.