“She set out upon an unknown course which held at least the possibility of personal fulfillment — a choice inextricably driven by her inherent passion for place —a passion which would ultimately define her life.” —Linda Lear, biographer of Beatrix Potter: A Life in Nature Perhaps you were read and then read yourself as a […]
True contentedness is unremarkable to the outside world, or passerby. Typing away in my cozy chair in the living room in my line of sight Norman eats his breakfast and Oscar acknowledging he will not be able to sneak a bite, takes a long cool drink of water. The croissant for my Sunday morning ritual […]
“We have the choice to change our life, to be courageous and to live true to our heart, one that will see us die and live without regret.” —Bronnie Ware, author of The Top Five Regrets of the Dying Dying, death and loss has unwantingly been on my mind this past fall. Rest assured, today’s […]
“This is my invariable advice to people: Learn how to cook – try new recipes, learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun.” – from Julia Child’s memoir My Life in France During the month of July, The Simple Sophisticate podcast will be airing top episodes from the archives. Why, you might […]
I have been excited about turning 40 for quite some time. And the closer the new decade neared, the more eager I became for it to begin. Why? Perhaps the better inquiry is to ask the question that often precedes the topic of most Wednesday posts here on TSLL – Why Not (or shall I […]
“Things in their original simplicity contain their own natural power, power that is easily spoiled and lost when that simplicity is changed.” —Benjamin Hoff, author of The Tao of Pooh ~Below is a list of the life lessons shared on today’s podcast episode. For detailed conversation about each point, be sure to listen to the […]
“Genius is the ability to renew one’s emotions in daily experience.” —Paul Cezanne, French Post-Impressionist painter who spent much of his life in Provence Upon stepping foot in my vacation rental just two miles outside of Gordes, nestled in the countryside and surrounded by vineyards, my breathing deepened, and a long sigh was exhaled. With […]
Strength and intelligence, composure and courage, free-thinkers and style makers. French women from history and today offer in today’s post words to ponder about the subject of women and the journey we all are on: life. It is how we choose to live it that will make all the difference, and the awareness that indeed […]
~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #155 ~Subscribe to The Simple Sophisticate: iTunes | Stitcher | iHeartRadio ~Julia Child’s kitchen as seen at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C., as it was in Cambridge, Massachusetts~ The more I read about Julia Child, especially in her own words, the more I find inspiration regarding how to successfully journey through life. Saying yes to life, […]
“The life you have led doesn’t need to be the only life you have.” – Anna Quindlen ~Note: A new episode of The Simple Sophisticate podcast did not go live on Monday (4/10) due to my loss of voice. Argh! However, I do hope you enjoy today’s post as I reflect on my recent week-long trip […]
“It is within the boundaries of reflection we are able to become aware of insights that can lead us to understanding.” ― Kat Lahr ~The Simple Sophisticate, episode #135 On the first of January with each new year, twelve months stretch before us full of potential to progress and evolve and to observe the magic that […]
Lately I’ve been reading As Always, Julia: The Letters of Julia Child and Avis DeVoto, and the more I hear her voice in those letters, the more I completely love her and am inspired to be myself. Just be myself. And so, as I mentioned earlier this week, I become more in awe of a woman […]
The Summer Olympics is a wonderful way to enjoy August. I think I shed more tears every four years during these two weeks than I do all total throughout the year, but the tears are tears of inspiration, amazement and a reminder that so much of what is thought to be impossible (because accepting this […]
~PODCAST LISTENERS: Please note, that the next episode of The Simple Sophisticate will return next Monday. Due to my travels, I wasn’t able to produce the episode I have been working on, and rather than do something too quickly, I will be fine tuning it over the week. It is a topic that is dear […]
The fall semester is about to begin in many colleges, and the fall quarter isn’t too far behind. When I imagine all of the students I have taught beginning college, many as freshman, I can’t help but reflect on my first experience away from home and doing my best to harness my freedom as well […]
“I’m not so worried about the dangers of mental junk food. That’s because I’ve found that many of the true intellectuals I’ve met take pleasure in mental junk food too. Having a taste for trashy rom-coms hasn’t rotted their brain or made them incapable of writing great history or doing deep physics. No, my worry […]
In Oregon, twenty of the 30+ counties are expected to step into Phase One of transitioning out of stay-at-home orders. Bend is part of the first twenty counties. What does that mean to how we will shift as we go about our daily lives? In Paris and for all of France, on Monday May 11th, […]
“Life is short and absurd and run through with pain and sorrow. But even in the face of real suffering, gardening can make our days shine with joy.” —Monty Don Today is Earth Day, and so I chose today’s topic as a way to celebrate the good fortunate we have to live on our amazing […]
“For oft, when on my couch I lieIn vacant or in pensive mood,They flash upon that inward eyeWhich is the bliss of solitude;And then my heart with pleasure fills,And dances with the daffodils.” ― William Wordsworth, the final stanza of his poem I Wander’d Lonely as a Cloud The arrival of the daffodil with its pronounced trumpet, strong, […]
“Vitality means moving through life with energy and vigor, making deliberate choices and putting to good use the time and energy that we have been granted.” —Twyla Tharp, author of Keep Moving: Lessons for the Rest of Your Life Knowing how to care for our body which we must not forget includes the mind is […]
“Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson Sometimes lessons can only be understood in retrospect, but I am thank for those who have passed along their insights so not every lesson in life must be acquired from first-hand experience. Reflecting on the times of my life when I have felt peace of […]
“Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live.” ― Nora Roberts Snow in September. Magic waltzes into our […]
“Dreams we have as a child, dreams we pack in a box for college, dreams you unpack when you move into your first apartment, who you’ll meet, where you’ll work, who you’ll fall in love with. Think you have it all figured out. Life has better ideas. A bigger imagination takes bigger chances than someone […]
“A well-designed life is a life that makes sense . . . a marvelous portfolio of experiences, of adventures, of failures that taught you important lessons, of hardships that made you stronger and helped you know yourself better, and of achievements and satisfactions.” —Designing Your Life: How to Build a Well-Lived, Joyful Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans At the heart of choosing and the actively living a simply luxurious […]
