humblydemure

I know it’s easy to panic, worry and assume the worst about life and people. Sometimes we can’t get out of our own mental muck and see things the way they really are- much better than we had imagined! This kind of “stinking thinking ” is much rougher when we have a disorder, especially when that disorder is connected to anxiety or depression. For me, reading the Bible or a hagiography ( biography of a Saint) is the best medicine. My favorite biography is Story of a Soul by St Theresa of the Child Jesus. I also have a regular yoga practice. Try and experiment with what works for you and please leave a comment with your ideas. Good luck, lovelies!

Sometimes it seems like life is so expensive. We need recreation, but the mall, the movies, and the like take more than we have. But life doesn’t have to be boring just because of limited means. There are plenty of hobbies that are frequently overlooked in our quest to find occupations that improve us. Some I enjoy are listed here.

The local library. This is a big favorite of mine. You can either get a list of great reads and head on over, or you can pick up a skill on the computer, rent and watch foreign films, or even learn a new language on CD. Try something new!

Another idea is gardening. Seed packets are inexpensive, more so than plants already started, and soil and pots can be found at dollar stores. Herbs for cooking or homemade tea are easy and fun to grow. I have cared for plants on my balcony.

Yet another choice is museums. I live near the Minneapolis Institute of Art and have enjoyed the art and expanded my horizons for only a small, optional donation. Community colleges have art sales and displays too and are very affordable.

Another option is creating your own art, visual or written. Pencil and paper is very inexpensive and can be found at stores like Walmart. Your phone has a camera on it so you can enjoy snapping pictures for nothing. I myself like to do cross stitch and occasionally I will write poetry to help me sort through my feelings.

I frequently cannot sit still due to my anxiety. I am troubled by this even as I write! I find sitting is easier when I have a goal in mind. If the goal in mind is a health goal ( something I am passionate about) I will either enjoy a hot cup of nutritious tea, do a yoga sequence to center my mind, or go for a walk outside on my favorite trail ( the town I live in has excellent trails.) Another possibility, if you desire to improve your knowledge is to do a YouTube tutorial on your favorite subject and get learning. I also recommend, if you really can’t make yourself do anything is to contact your nearest emergency counselor and express your difficulties to them- it could be you need a change in medicine. Just a few quick thoughts. Hope this helps. Good luck, lovelies!

Sometimes in our journey to elegance we need some inspiration. Most people look at celebrities and think of them as elegant women. This is not always accurate. I can think of some certain high profile reality stars that are anything but elegant. Being rich, flashy and famous doesn’t mean that you have a hint of class. But subtlety, cleanliness, simplicity and humility are qualities that never go out of style and are truly elegant.

So who is elegant? Certainly examples don’t crop up frequently in our media. I myself look to heroines from eighteenth and nineteenth century novels. Some examples are: Matilda Weimar, Elizabeth Bennett, Fanny Price, Esther Summerson (whose positive outlook and gentle heart are extremely inspirational) and Eleanor Dashwood. If you are looking for a real life example, look up Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Jackie O., Michelle Obama, and the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex. Read about their strength in adversity, timeless fashion, polished manners and their commitment to their education. Like these women, fictional and otherwise, attempt to capture their grace and charm. But don’t lose sight of yourself and try to be an exact copy of them. Remember that authenticity is one of the most elegant qualities of all. Good luck, lovelies!

I have recently begun reading a set of books called the Northanger Horrid novels, a series of novels named by Isabella Thorpe in the novel Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. These novels are some of the best gothic novels of the eighteenth century and they are available online for E-book (my auto correct is trying to say Ebola) for less than $5. I also, by the way, got the complete Dickens for free. Classic novels are easy to get digitally for little to nothing, and they are worth reading. Good luck, lovelies!

This website is devoted to helping women with disabilities and low income become their best, classiest selves despite limitations. On this journey I am praying for all women on fixed incomes and with personal issues to become the best versions of themselves- cool, calm, and classy. Please share your thoughts on how to do this, us ladies need each other to grow and thrive. Thanks and God bless. 🙂

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton