“We are born with a capacity to dance together but not with the necessary training.” —David Richo As soon as I read the first line in chapter one shown above, the analogy made crystal clear sense of my ignorance about relationships and how to navigate past it: I needed to learn HOW to love, not […]
“Comparison is the death of joy.” ― Mark Twain The thief of joy, if Mark Twain is right, is of our own making. The good news in this revelation reveals each of us can take back our joy. Comparing ourselves to others occurs consciously and unconsciously. Consciously, we may be acutely aware that we follow certain […]
“When we learn how to spot the narratives that get in the way of our happiness, we improve our chances of taking control of the stories that have for so long controlled us.” —Paul Dolan, author of Happy Ever After: Escaping the Myth of the Perfect Life “There are countless stories about how we ought […]
~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #186 ~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio “It is paradoxical, yet true, to say, that the more we know, the more ignorant we become in the absolute sense, for it is only through enlightenment that we become conscious of our limitations. Precisely one of the most gratifying results of intellectual evolution is the […]
“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living […]
“Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.”– Raymond Lindquist I can remember quite vividly the first time I rode my bike without training wheels. I was four or five years old, and we were bicycling in our neighbors long drive-way. I don’t remember how long I rode with training wheels, but the […]
“Do not allow any negativity or ugliness in your surroundings, or anybody at all, [to] destroy your confidence or affect your growth as a blooming flower. It is very normal for one ugly weed to not want to stand alone.” ― Suzy Kassem ~The Simple Sophisticate podcast, episode #67 The beauty of self-reflection is that it […]
“‘Letting go’ obviously has several meanings. Letting go of the past; letting go of grief. But surely the most resistant is letting go of fixed ideas. Keeping our minds open to a future we can’t see.” -Kathy Horyn ~The Simple Sophisticate podcast, episode #16 Often with our good intentions to set goals for our life, […]
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who […]
“All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.” ~Havelock Ellis I write this post as someone who for quite some time believed that having control was the path to happiness. Thankful, I have learned there is a much better and much more satisfying way to achieve fulfillment […]
“We can never judge the lives of others, because each person knows only their own pain and renunciation. It’s one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it’s another to think that yours is the only path.” –Paul Coelho As humans, we like to know things. We are comforted by certainties, […]
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If you’re already a subscriber, please log in. Username Password Remember Me Forgot Password Thank You… . . . for your interest and curiosity to explore further this particular post on TSLL. Unfortunately, you do not have access to view this page. One of two things has occurred: You are either a TSLL […]
The skinny jean cut has been in style since 2010 and has hung around for a reason, creating a curvy silhouette, when wore with heels they elongate the body and allow fun to be played with large over-sized tops without looking sloppy. While I will always have a pair or two (okay, maybe three or […]
Letting go (per the focus of this week’s episode of the podcast) and paring down have been at the forefront of my mind lately as I contemplate the reality of packing up not only my house, but my classroom full of 13 years of teaching. And so I found it to be quite serendipitous when […]
“We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”– Joseph Campbell The Simple Sophisticate, episode #41 While the undeniable life truth remains that change is inevitable, even when we seek change, fervently pursue it, letting go of certain aspects of […]
“When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. When I let go of what I have, I receive what I need.” -The Tao Te Ching It always seems funny to me how life has a way of forcing us to be honest with ourselves even when we try, […]
“Find a way to do what you love and everything else falls into place.” —Adam Frost, British garden designer and Gardeners’ World co-host At first glance, the above quote may seem far too simple. And a doubtful reader may argue, Even if I do know what I love, being able to do it regularly is […]
“The lack of meaning in our lives stresses us out, but too much stress makes it harder to find meaning.” —Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, author of The Stress Solution Yesterday, for the entire day, aside from letting my pups outside from time to time and feeding them, I wallpapered. I turned on old British cosy mysteries […]
The new year often reminds us how good it feels to feel our best when we are comfortable in our physical skin, and each of us knows if we are doing enough to take care of our bodies regarding exercise. Having workout clothing which enables us to do what we want to do, as well […]
A beautifully cooked burger. A glass of red wine. The weekend or evening arrives, and comfort is savored with every bite and pairing sip. The final episode of season 3 of The Simply Luxurious Kitchen is one I saved intentionally to conclude this year’s French Comfort themed recipes. Burgers, no matter what the protein, dressed […]
Crêpes. Buckwheat crêpes (or galettes) are both delicate and hardy. Filling and satiating without being too much. Adding quality ingredients to fill the crêpe make it all the more special, and the good news is only a few ingredients are necessary. Yep, simple and delicious. One of the best ways to step into the kitchen […]
A simple nibble to enjoy in the evening before the dinner is served. A reason to sit down, slow down and savor the company who has gathered or simply wind down the day. Gougères provide the savory comfort that can only come from cheese and butter. Simple to make, and easy to freeze, so you […]
