Happy New Year!
Are you ready for 2017?
For 2017 I’ve dedicated myself to focusing on cultivating happiness by choosing experiences over things.
I live far from all my family and friends and therefore my goal this year is to ensure I reconnect and fuel the relationships that fill my heart with happiness.
I believe that friendships or any kind of relationship requires a certain level of maintenance and effort that can be lost in today’s virtual world.
Nothing replaces quality time spent with someone.
Time is the one commodity that we all lack and most valuable when it comes to maintaining relationships. It is the very best gift we can give to each other.
I will be escaping some of the Toronto winter and heading out to visit Sherry in Phoenix during the month of February for a 40+ Blogger Meet-up!
My ticket is already booked! Sherry has been busy planning away and I am so pumped about everything she has already organized. It is going to be a blast!
Did I mention that Sherry is one little ball of positive creative energy? I still haven’t figured out how her huge heart fits into her petite body.
Will I see you there?
Be sure to let Sherry know if you think you might be able to make it.
In March I’m going to be back in BC to visit family and reconnect with long time blogging buddies Melanie and Sue.
Meeting with these two is like a trip to Disneyland for adults. 100% fun.
They have a way of igniting my creativity and making me laugh uncontrollably.
Maybe we’ll create another video. Any suggestions?
After winter has passed several of my blogging friends may come to visit me again during the summer.
Patti ( the Therapist Whisperer) & Ally (the most thoughtful motorcycle riding mermaid in NY).
I’m counting on you both to stuff this summer full of more quality memories. I promise not to be late to the party this time around!
Making the time to get to know my friends better enriches my life in ways that no dress or pair of shoes can.
Come April I hope to meet-up with my wonderful kind and creative friend Anja when I am in Asia visiting my husband currently in Hong Kong for work.
FaceTime is great and all but the pug and I were so happy when he came home for Christmas.
Now we are back to a 13 hour time difference and saying good night when it is morning and good morning when it is night.
Insert very unhappy face here.
Late summer may mean a little trip to NYC for another blogger meet-up this time with Sylvia, Greetje and hopefully a few others. You can read up more on Anja, Greetje and Sylvia from my trip two years ago when I visited them in Holland. It was such a fantastic trip! I am so grateful for meeting these wonderfully unique and inspirational women.
That’s as far as I have planned to create lasting experiences and memories this year rather than focusing on what I want to buy next.
As I get older I’m keenly aware of just how much joy things can bring me.
It is fleeting and superficial.
To assume that by buying a certain object I will somehow magically become the person I’ve always wanted to be, live the life I’ve always dreamed of or become happier is a lie I’ve been fed my whole life by marketing agencies to oil the democratic machine of mass consumption.
The old fashioned and unsustainable “solution” which stimulates our economy and spoils the planet does not fill my heart with lasting joy.
How To Create More Happiness In Your Life
- Spend more time with friends.
- Make a point of doing one small thoughtful gesture daily for someone you know, or someone you don’t.
- Hug a loved one. Go ahead and give them a good long squeeze. You’ll both feel great afterwards.
- Help someone in need.
- Let someone know how much you care about them. Don’t assume they know.
- Pet a furry friend.
- Laugh more often.
That emptiness you’ve been trying to fill up with things will never go away, you need to change your mindset.
Experiences create memories, not things.
When you are on your death bed will you be lamenting that last pair of shoes you didn’t manage to scoop up on sale?
For your sake I hope not.
Small choices in our lives create big changes both for ourselves and the world in which we live.
As a style blogger this is a conundrum I face. Sometimes I feel that blogging doesn’t align with my personal values. I have a passion for clothing however it is simply a tool I use to help me express myself and connect with like minded people. I don’t want to promote fast fashion or over consumption. It is a difficult balance to maintain and one I struggle with every post I write.
This year I will continue to feature thrifted or vintage items on the blog and in my Etsy store as well as old favourites like the dress I am wearing below. I hope in doing so I can inspire other women to consider buying secondhand clothing or shopping in their closets more often.
I wanted to share my thoughts on blogging and how I’m trying to pay particular attention this year to creating enduring moments of happiness with friends and family rather than relying on material goods to fill my life.
Ultimately it is our experiences in life and they way we react to them which create sustainable happiness.
What are your plans for happiness in 2017?
Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like, Shoe and Tell, Turning Heads Tuesdays, Hat Attack
This resonates so much with me, Suzanne! It’s the relationships with people that really give me joy!
I’m so bummed I won’t be able to make it to the meetup 🙁
jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I am too : (
Suzanne…I just copied and pasted your words of wisdom into my “notes”.
Thoughtful gestures and hugs…. Amen to that!!!
Wishing you health and happiness (and plenty of hugs) for 2017.
XXX
Sam
Happy New Year to you as well Sam!
Wonderful, wonderful. You have a voice for so many of us, who’ve had a long time to accumulate “stuff” but need/want more real life treasures. I hope to be part of your experiences in 2017 and send you big hugs, xo
Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Our goal is also to focus on making memories and cultivating friendships versus purchasing things this year (although we’ll have to replace our very old cars, each with almost 200,000 miles, very soon…). Your plan for the year sounds great! I was hoping to maybe make it to the meetup in February, but it’s during SF Beerweek, and my husband is a beer writer so it won’t work. I would have loved to meet you!
I’m also struggling with blogging about fashion and not promoting buying new things all the time. Many of my clothes are quite old, and I have several second hand items that I love. But I do buy some new clothes (much less than I used to and much better planned), but I’m still trying to figure out what I’m comfortable with.
That is too bad Andrea. I would have loved to have met you. Hopefully another time.
A beer writer! Sounds like the job every guy wants!
So very true, Suzanne. All too often we acquire “things” to make up for a shortfall elsewhere in our lives. I’ll take experiences and time spent with people I care for over a hundred designer handbags and a stack of fancy shoes.
I adore that photo of you on the “Consumption” photo and you look fabulous in that cha-cha frock.
It must be incredibly hard to be apart from Robert. Hong Kong will be fabulous, I’m dying to go after finding an amazing website, I’ll find it for you.
Happy New Year. xxx
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/
Thanks for that!
Amen. I totally agree with you. Fortunately I can say “I do” to all 7 points. Which is why I agree with you so much. I have no problem in what I am showing on my blog because I am a very superfluous person haha.
And you look like a dream in that black dress. By Jove what a sight for sore eyes you are.
As for the blogger meet-up in February.. no, that is too soon. My credit cards will still be in the freezer. At least till April.
Love you and hope to see you in 2017.
Greetje
A very thoughtful post, Suzanne and so true!
I’m almost 63 and thought I’d be retiring at 55 but couldn’t. Instead of carrying on working full time I reduced my hours and worked only 3 days a week until I retired at 60. I did this because I valued the time I have on this earth more than having more money to spend on consumer goods. It was a decision I never regretted.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year! You have got some great events comming up! Fantastic!
That is such a thoughtful post, Susanne. Indeed, time spent with friends really is invaluable and relationships do require some level of maintenance. It must be hard to be apart from your husband. I can’t really imagine it … That said, I really love that photo of you in that sweet frou-frou frock! xxx
Well, that clothing I bought a couple of weeks ago I’m certain made me a happier, healthier, more caring person. Hahaha!! I can’t even remember what I buy a few weeks later. Ninety-nine percent of my clothes are thrifted/vintage too, we share that passion. Even so, I aim to shop my closet more.
Your year as planned sounds great! I absolutely agree with all the things you’ve written. I’m in this city and I hope I can discover more of its potential this year. And I can’t wait to see you again when you come out! We have such a blast. As you’ve said before, it’s the friendships that keep me blogging more than anything. I soooo wish I could hit Arizona but Feb is a peak season for my work, but I like the work so at least there’s that.
I LOVE your photos in this post, especially the one on your 7 Things List. That sucker should go viral! Hahaha!! And great to see Robert again too.
Suzanne, I relate so completely to why you blog! Thank you for putting it so eloquently . O also use my blog as a “picture myself well” tool, and it as help me with my AI disease. and I image it helps you with your Fibro,
I so agree it is the IRL experiences that makes us happy, the connectedness. It is nice to be surrounded by pretty things, but without real friends to share them , they would be appendages only.
Love this black dress! So pretty on you. I think it is a keeper!
Happy New Year! I hope you enjoy much fulfillment and merriment!
I cant travel to the dessert, dry air is bad for my breathing issues. 🙁 But enjoy!
xx, Elle
http://www.theellediaries.com/blog/
Such a timely post Suzanne. I’ve been struggling with this notion as well and wonder how I can buy less and still be inspiring on my blog. Shopping my closet is a great idea, but I really do love the pleasure of thrifting too. Connecting with friends and loved ones is high on my to do list and is something I try to do as often as I can. Thanks for your list of tips – it’s the perfect route to daily happiness!
I admire your ability to fit in so many trips in the forthcoming year. What a lovely time you’re going to have!
Happy New Year x
Anna
http://www.annasislandstyle.com
“…may come to visit” you? I’m e-mailing you tomorrow to confirm I’m DEFINITELY riding up to Toronto this year to visit you. We can discuss details; I just want you to know how much I agree that experiences — especially good times with best friends — are the most important things in life. I’m pursuing them with vigor and, since you’re my favorite friend, you get top priority. BTW, I love the black dress; so elegant and stylish.
I’m so excited you are going to make it out for another visit this year : )
Your black dress is fabulous! Phoenix sounds like a perfect place to visit in winter–my sister is moving to Arizona after she gets married in June and I know I’ll have to find a way to visit her there someday, I’ve never been to that state! Sorry the husband is so far away, that would not be too much fun but it’s pretty cool you’ll get to visit him on this side of the globe!
Yes Asia should be interesting but I’m not looking forward to the 17 hour flight. : (
That flight is terrible…that’s the main reason that once I get to one side of the world, I stay there for years. No quick trips back and forth for me!
I’ve been more contemplative about my own rampant consumerism lately. When I first began following over 40 fashion bloggers I was surprised and delighted that thrifting and vintage are passions of so many of you! I pretty much chose to follow those bloggers who do. Shopping my closet always turns up charitable donations as well as keepers that just need creative restyling.
I’m also delighted to discover that my personal growth continues even though I turned 65 in October. My values remain the same but I’m finding it more crucial to walk the walk, be the change, and kick my own sorry butt as needed.
The pictures of you and Robert made me smile a lot. What a handsome couple you are!
Do you think Sherry would accept a non-blogger at the Pheonix meetup? Are there righteous blogger rules about meet-up crashing?
I totally think that Sherry would be open to the idea. Just check with her, I have her email listed above. At the last blogger meet-up I organized two years ago we had a few non-bloggers attend. It would be great to meet you Marilee!
I’m so new to Sherry’s blog and so of course she doesn’t know me very well.
See! There are so many ways to risk ourselves in this world…For me it’s a little scary to just stick my big ol self in there because it would be such fun to meet you!
Sherry is a BIG sweetheart. I don’t think you need to fret at all. I can ask for you if you like.
At my last meet-up I didn’t know any of the non-bloggers that came and got to know them at the meet-up.
It is just a great opportunity to meet other people, do some fun stuff, expand your horizons and laugh.
On average these types of meet-ups are very laid back. People can participate in whatever they like. Everyone is responsible for themselves.
Think about it.
YES! It really is our life experiences that matter over material things! You’ve said it best Suzanne!
`Your first photo took my breath away, sooooooooooooooo beautiful
I couldn´t agree more with you
I wish we could meet
So nice to see Robert on your blog again – glad you were able to spend some time together over the holidays, and you have a trip to Hong Kong to look forward to. I definitely agree that experiences will stay with you so much longer than any “stuff” you buy, and I would certainly travel more to visit my friends if I had the money. Arizona in February sounds great, and I am envious that you will see Mel and Sue.
I do love your posts (yours is one blog too where I also love reading the comments because you always start good conversations). Definitely agreed that experiences tend to be what make one truly happy. I feel a bit like I’ve done more than my fair share of consumerism lately. Part of it is for the baby (such tiny people seem to need so many things….), but I’ve also been guilty of being a bit of an emotional clothes shopper these past few months too. I’m blaming hormones but, still. Far more lasting than cute clothing that fit (though, admittedly that did make me happy or at least relieved) was getting to spend time with friends over the holidays. Your 7 things list is so, so true.
Good luck in the coming year- sounds like it is will be amazing and can’t wait to see it all reported about here!
I can see how you would get caught up in buying things for the baby and also for yourself and your changing body.
Best of luck to you and your soon-to-be new family member! This is going to be an amazing year of firsts for you.
May I just say that reading this post of yours made my heart feel all warm and fuzzy, Suzanne, and I’m not even trying to be corny. It’s the gospel truth and for that, I thank you.
Suzanne! This was such a great post, you inspired me to make a few trips to visit my good friends I haven’t seen forever! I’m arranging my schedule and hope to come to the meet-up in Arizona. Will be so much fun!! Happy 2017! xx Zuma
http://www.splashofteal.com
That is one glamorous little black dress! Love that assymetrical ruffled hemline,
I so wish I could go to the blogger meetup in Az. Unfortunately I’ve got some things in the works that prevent me for taking time off right now. But if all goes as planned, this year should be the start of a major lifestyle change for me. So your post really hit home. I have been seriously aware lately of my need to readjust my work/life balance so I can spend more time with friends and family, and have some new adventures. Heck, maybe even get to visit Suzanne in Toronto!
And I totally get your whole view about rampant consumerism not being the answer to happiness. I think that is why I love scouting for vintage clothing so much. I can justify the buying by thinking I’m rescuing a wearable work of art from the past and that certainly makes me happy!
Also, I know what it’s like to have a husband who travels a lot for his job. There are many weeks my husband is away which is another reason I need to make some changes this year. So I can free up my schedule to see him more.
Cheers to a whole New Year!
Theresa
Ooh! I’d be so excited if you could make it up here for a visit! The trouble we’d get into ; P
Happy New Year Theresa!
Oh yes we would. It’s on my list 🙂
Happy New Year Suzanne,
Such a great post and your photos are lovely. I so agree with all you say regarding the importance of friendships and life experiences. Sounds like you have some nice trips planned to catch up with friends and of course visiting hubby and exploring another country will be so much fun!
You have a wonderful attitude and realize what the important things are in life. Hope you have a wonderful 2017. Cant wait to read about all your adventures.
Thanks for this wonderful post. I am nowhere near any of my family either and I miss them but J.B. and I spend a lot of driving time to visit them which is great and my two closest friends are also not near any more. (We each have scheduled get togethers every year, something we decided on some years ago because, as you say, you can so easily loose the threads of a very precious friendship if you don’t maintain it). Thanks for introducing me to Sherry in Phoenix (this get together sounds fabulous!). Love and best of everything for 2017, Elizabeth. xx
This is such a lovely, wonderful, inspiring post, Suzanne. It really touched me and got me a little misty-eyed with your kind words.
I have long held the belief that experiences mean more than buying things but this is such a great reminder of that. And you do have quite the year planned, filled with experiences you will have for a lifetime. I can’t wait to hear all about each one–and I’m thrilled to be a part of at least one of them!
As I said, I really truly am happy to be a part of those experiences with you. I hope by the time you go home, you’ll have so many good memories of Arizona that it will hold a special place in your heart like it does for me. I am certain we will have so many shared memories that we’ll soon start planning the next time we can get together. (I’m already planning, actually. I’ll be in Toronto in the fall!)
Also–I can’t wait to see you!!! Just two more weeks!!!!
Hugs,
Sherry
http://www.petiteover40.com