Keeping Life Simple

I can't stress how important it has been to my overall attitude and well being taking full responsibility and control of simplifying life... that is not to say it is in any way sparse or meager; I've just  streamlined and know what works  for me and using some easy guidelines to their best advantage... some of which I will share with you this week.

First of all I want to thank those of you who have contacted me with praise and well wishes for some of my more thoughtful and inspiring editions to Looking Good Living Great... it usually was the result of preplanning, organizing my thoughts and doing some research and fact checking... such is not the case this week as the last 7 days slipped away like minutes for some reason.

Now that the confetti has been cleaned up from all the festivities of the season it's back to work... so to speak... but for our purposes here it's going to be next week...

So for this week I'm going to share some of my secrets to keeping life simple and running smoothly.

In terms of the way you dress I can't stress enough that you should be comfortable and like what you are wearing but it's equally important understanding that everything you put on your body tells the world something about you... Your clothing, grooming and overall appearance offer others important clues to others about your personality and mental health.

1. I always say when buying a sweater... lean toward the more snug side in fit because people want to see what you look like and if you spend any amount of time keeping in shape you should show off the results.
2. Don't underdress for parties and social occasions... show that you care and strike a balance between casual-ish and more dressed up... the same can be said for business casual... buy good quality and add a little pizazz with some color or an interesting accessory.
3. I've been carrying a man-bag for years because I carry around a lot of stuff on a daily basis... eye drops, contact lens case, sunglasses, reading glasses, phone, filo-fax (really), keys, mints, reading material--- all this stuff does not look good stuffed in every available pocket and putting stuff in your pockets wears them out and ruins the line of your outfit... buy a good one that expresses who you or who you want to be... but make sure it's not too cumbersome.
4. Never underestimate the value of tailoring.... a good suit that does not fit properly looks inexpensive and a cheaper suit that fits perfectly looks more expensive.
5. Know what colors work for you and which ones don't... and don't be afraid of pink... paired with navy blue it can look super smart and masculine.
6. Develop a style that works for you and with you... wearing well thought out clothing and bucking fashion trends can propel you into a category of being a trend setter and not a fashion victim... at all costs avoid being a style cliche. Buy good quality fabrics, wear good shoes and accessories,... avoid anything that is too heavy on visible logos... and no rips, tears or fraying fabric ( I suspect the people who design these things are laughing all the way to the bank... with your hard earned money)

Now that you look better... how do you feel?  Studies show that too much sleep or not enough is bad for you and doubles your risk of an early death... aim for about 7-8 hours a night and I can't stress the importance of a nap especially if you are going out at night.

I was raised that life needs to taken in moderation, whether it's work, sex or diet and exercise... while I don't drink that much except socially I do indulge in red wine with a good meal because the polyphenols  in it help your body from absorbing fat ( I also have a pretty active metabolism and I work out three days a week)... And the all important diet... if you don't already do this  then start keeping a food diary of everything you put in your body to fuel it... and you will be able to better pinpoint where you are going wrong and need to make a few tweeks... and probably most importantly read food labels. and don't regard a diet and exercise program as a short-term fix to a problem... think of it as a life long commitment to living a longer and healthier life (it's OK to cheat now and then and have some fun... within reason I eat almost everything I want in moderation from Thanksgiving to New Years... but I go back to reality and eat with more common sense and fore thought right about now)

Finally... no matter what...

• Resist the urge to quit or give up and do whatever you need to do to improve you focus and rewrite your goals and ambitions.
• Try harder to have more empathy for others and their experiences and have more patience with others and yourself... (this last part has always been a struggle for me but  at least I'm trying)
• Be independent and generous to yourself and others.
• Ignore peer pressure no matter how old you are... whether it's saying no to drugs or not joining the country club just to keep up appearances.... and it's been said by almost everyone before me... but take care of your teeth and wear sunscreen.

I said in my very first installment in this series that you have to know how to live not just merely survive but that sometimes it's important to know how to do both... that reminds me of something written by Vivian Green...

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain."

As for me I'm going to harness my energy and go forth boldly and start writing another happy beginning... 

See you next week... We are going to be going to take a short trip to Japan and I'll share one of my favorite recipes.