Month: December 2018

NEW YEAR’S HAPPINESS LIST

Published on by Brigitte Nioche2 Comments

This is the moment of the year when we would like to rid ourselves of everything that did not work and make it better next year by making New Year’s resolutions. And with the hope of a new year the list of most people will be is very ambitious.

But is it really something you want to do?  Maybe not! You will ask why not? Because the list for the New Year won’t be so different from last year’s – no, you didn’t lose the 20 pounds this year, no you didn’t visit your brother as you had put on last year’s list, and  while making a new list do you really want to remind yourself of all the broken resolutions?

I have a better idea – how about making a Happiness List. This will record  all the good thing that happened in the last year –  those which gave you  joy and you are proud of. It will be a happy ending to the year that is just leaving us – your list might look something like this:

  • – remembering that you got your degree
  •  – remembering getting married
  •  – remembering the trip to made
  •  – remembering evenings with friends
  •  – remembering sharing time with your family
  •  – remembering how you felt when you were promoted
  •  – remembering shopping trips with your girlfriends
  • –  remembering the warm, fuzzy feeling when holding your dog.

Of course your list will look different and probably be longer. When I made my happiness list I was surprised about all the positive events and happenings the past year has been filled with. It makes me feel  confident and gives me hope for the New Year,  promising that more good things are on the way.

New Year’s resolutions are self-imposed expectations which one probably can’t or won’t keep – so instead of having unrealistic goals start your HAPPINESS LIST – you still have time before the clock strikes 12 – then your glass of champagne to greet the New Year is not half empty by half full overflowing with happy bubbles.

Wishing you a

Happy New Year – Bonne Annee -Feliz Ano Nuevo – Frohes Neues Jahr

Brigitte –

 

And Never forget – A Smile Changes Everyhting!

 

 

NEW YORK CITY IS LOSING A LANDMARK

Published on by Brigitte Nioche6 Comments

Going shopping is always fun – but not so today. Today it was not about shopping but about saying  goodbye to Lord & Taylor. How many of my lunch times have I spent there over the last 20 years? – strolling through the isles and roaming the designer stocked floors. The store was just up the street from my office and I used to  call it my second home.

Today empty shelves, empty glass counters and racks half filled with  left overs, stood lost on the only three floors still open.  Well, January 2, 2019 is around the corner, the date the oldest department store in the US will close the doors of its flagship store on Fifth Avenue which opened in February 1914.

I will miss going there, shopping there, spending time there, but more importantly it represents the end of era. A serious reminder when you are over 50 like me. It brings to mind that a  part of my life, something I cherished is gone, and will never come back. I know change is good, change is necessary, but sometimes I would be grateful for a bit more time!

Thank you Lord & Taylor     

And Always remember – A Smile Changes Everything!

 

 

 

 

 

 

LISTEN TO YOUR WARDROBE

Published on by Brigitte Nioche1 Comment

 

A quarter of respondents said the clothes were unworn because they were waiting to lose weight to fit into them.

When opening your closet you see rows and rows of clothes patiently and seemingly silently waiting for attention. Yes, you show preference for some of these items by picking them again and again, but if you stopped for just a moment you would hear the cry for recognition, the plea to be chosen by the rest of your clothes, but your mind shuts down as quickly as you close the wardrobe doors. You don’t want to hear the green jacket asking you ‘why have you ignored me for the last 2 years?’ You don’t want to feel guilty for always choosing your favorites things, those which make you feel and look good. And even if you acknowledge that you have too many clothes you don’t want to admit that your bulging wardrobe is your doing. You make-believe you don’t know how this happened? Your closet just becomes fuller and fuller.
But if you took a moment to listen to what your wardrobe has to tell you, you would be happier with your clothes and your clothes would be happier with you. What is really happening is that when you open your wardrobe there is a voice in your mind that makes them speak – and here is what they say:

 –  why do you never wear me?
–  why do you keep me if I don’t fit you anymore?
– why did you buy me? red is not your color?
– when will you ever go dancing again or need a cocktail dress?
– why do you keep me – I am 10 years old and look worn?
– why do you keep something that is out of fashion?
– why did I get into your closet – I am not your style?
– why did you buy me – because I was on sale – I was a good deal?
– why don’t you remove the tags from me – will you never wear me?
– why can’t you control your impulse buying?

If you answer these questions honestly – especially this one – was it on sale – and take action you will silence these voices and have a slimmer wardrobe you love and which loves you back.

And Never Forget – A Smile Changes Everything!