Happy May 1st World Wise Beauty! I love our inner beauty wisdom quote this week because it beautifully compliments WWB’s mantra to be ‘comfortable in your own skin’. This week I’m sharing some ‘culture wise’ finds that I believe will nourish your inner life and get you thinking about what it truly means to be comfortable in your own skin. It is such a personal journey for each of us but one so worthwhile making…
Wellness Culture, Tradition & Creativity…
First lady Grace Coolidge receives a May basket from young children in 1927.
Okay maybe this custom I’m about to tell you about is old-fashioned but I just had to share it with you. ‘May Basket Day’ might be over shadowed by the more commercial Easter and Mother’s Day holiday, but I love the genuine sentiment of this tradition. I think it is a lovely gesture for neighbors to practice in their community and we should revive this special holiday asap! Just think how much joy you could bring to a senior citizen living on their own with a cheerful May-Basket. What am I talking about? Well, essentially as the month of April rolled to an end, people would begin gathering flowers and candies and other goodies to put in May baskets to hang on the doors of friends, neighbors and loved ones on May 1. Get to it and be creative! There is still time to create a lovely basket for anyone you appreciate and love! Any day really…
If making someone cheerful is not enough motivation for you, learn more about the latest scientific research on practicing kindness. More research is validating how ‘being kind’ is really, really good for your health. See this excellent article I stumbled upon entitled ‘Power of Kindness’ and maybe consider reviving the May-Basket tradition! Barbara Fredrickson, PhD and author of the book ‘Love 2.0: Creating Happiness and Health in Moments of Connection’, is quoted saying, “Moments of uplifting positive emotions function like nutrients for creativity, growth, and health. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
BTW, the attached article from NPR also reported that in some communities, hanging a May basket on someone’s door was a chance to express romantic interest. If a basket-hanger was espied by the recipient, the recipient would give chase and try to steal a kiss from the basket-hanger! And you thought internet-dating was the wild, wild, west! lol
Culture-Wise/Comfortable In Your Own Skin…
Newly Released, April 2015
The book, ‘Spinster–Making a Life of One’s Own.” by Kate Bolick was just released this week and is making a big splash. Before you dismiss the cover, because you are married or don’t like the name, I ask you to pause and read the following plug from Amazon Books. This is a ‘Culture Wise’ read for all women because it explores how women, world wise women for sure, define their own identity for themselves and are truly comfortable in their own skin. Married, Single, Divorced or Widowed, you are ultimately responsible for your own happiness. As the wise sage Confucius said, ‘No Matter Where You Go, There You Are’. To expand on that I would add ‘no matter who you are with, there you are’!
I am definitely going to read this book, not because I identify with the ‘tongue and cheek’ title but because the author shares stories of great women from around the world who led interesting lives and unconventional romantic lives. Having said this, I believe in marriage and family and I think when the commitment is there it is a beautiful, fulfilling experience. But like the author, I don’t believe your life is less worthwhile or unhappy because you haven’t chosen that life path.
Some of the women Kate highlights are poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, author Edith Wharton and journalist Neith Boyce. Since I have been single, married, and divorced, I have absolutely noticed how society treats your ‘status’ and attempts to define you based on that status. I think the biggest misconception is the assumption that single women are just waiting to be married so they can be happy and married women are blissfully happy. Both experiences can be happy and both can be unhappy.
The wisdom I gained over time is what I frequently explore at World Wise Beauty, and that is, ‘becoming comfortable in your own skin is an inside job’ and ‘happiness is grown in one’s own garden’. Let’s face it, no-one person can make you complete or happy. Learning to make a life of one’s own is a worthwhile pursuit because generally you will be a better partner, better parent and better human being when you are whole and comfortable with yourself. So whatever your status is, remember ‘loving yourself is a life-long romance’! 😉
