It's a Classical Life

  In the not too distant past I was a compulsive clothes shopper. I was never bad enough to get into debt, but the amount of money that I would allocate to myself as "spending money" inevitably got spent on clothes. Little withdrawals from my savings account here and there would be made for a new dress or pair of pants. I was of the belief that by buying that next piece of clothing, my wardrobe would finally be complete. The catch was though, it never felt complete and my eye would begin to wander again. I'd shop sales and tell myself it didn't really count when it was so heavily discounted. Then, I would be inspired to de-clutter, minimise my clothing, cut-down on everything and do a big wardrobe purge. This set the stage for another shopping spree - to replace the things I'd donated of course. Watching Youtube or following my favourite "content creators" would inspire me to create new looks, hence more shopping.  Normally I don't talk so candidly h...

Nobody can think less of dress in general than I do. Do you remember when Mrs Weston said this in Emma ? We all knew she didn't mean it of course, but was rather fixated on complimenting others, in order to receive many compliments in return. There is nothing wrong with being concerned about our dress and how we present ourselves to the world. Being fixated  on it, however, is another thing  altogether. I believe how we choose to dress (yes, this is definitely an area of our lives where our choices can dictate how well we live) can have significant impacts on how we feel about ourselves, how we view the world (and ourselves), how others view us, and how we actually want to live. If, like me, you want to live well, then let's explore the classics for some tips on how to dress well, find our personal style, and ultimately live better.  I think if there is anything that the classics can teach us about a personal style, it is that less is more . So many of the great ladies (a...

Who is Jane Eyre? Ask her and she will tell you, for she knows exactly who she is. Don't ask Mr Rochester, because he has his own, blinkered view of her. Don't ask Mr St. John Rivers, because he doesn't understand her either, or recognise her for her true worth. Ask Jane; she will tell you that she will not be swayed by the opinions of others, nor will she conform or try to be someone she is not.  These days when I read or reread a book, I do it with the mind of not only entertainment but also, as a source of influence or inspiration. How can the book help me to live a more refined life? A classically, simple life full of pleasure, contentment and overall satisfaction. For these are my goals: to be satisfied with how I am living my modest, modern life;  and by having true confidence in who I am and what I believe  without being swept away by societal trends and the current zeitgeist. As I read Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre  it didn't take me long to see what aspect o...

While we are not deserted on a tropical island like the Swiss Family Robinson, we are still able to look over our supplies and be prepared for whatever may come. This is something that our grandparents and grandparents did, although they managed to get by with a lot less than we do today! It is such a classic thing to be prepared. The books and quotes that I have shared during this series are only a fraction of books that talk about preparedness. We can't always predict what will be waiting for us around the corner, but we can ensure that our we, and our loved ones, are as prepared as we possibly can be. Shortages, job loss, sickness, strikes and more all a part of our daily life, and while many of these things are out of our control, to live a refined and simple life, is one of intelligence and preparedness. We need to be formed by reliable sources and make intelligent purchases that will benefit our family and not waste our money. By having a little bit extra we can help those wh...

  Last week when I was reflecting on my Preparedness Challenge , I turned to some Italian classics to get me started. The books by Machiavelli and Boccaccio are indeed classics, and they, along with Dante's Inferno, formed the basis of my Italian Renaissance education at university. I love the Italian Renaissance and everything to do with it, but as I was reading over those books last week I started to thinking about the Italy that I know. The Italy that I first visited when I was 22 and then again when I was 24. On the second visit I lived in the northern city of Padua for six weeks, to consolidate my Italian language learning. I love Italy. I love all things Italian and just by having those two books out last week, reignited my love. The first thing that I turned to satisfy my desire for Italia  was the classic 1953 movie starring Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, Roman Holiday.  Have you seen it? If not, you can watch the movie trailer below. Besides starring the amazin...

 " September brings up spring: a clearer sky, a warmer air, bluer seas. Flowery battalions different in every state, come to delight us. Birds sing. Everywhere flying wings beat down on us swiftly and passionately as the violins beat down in the Tannhauser Overture."                                                                                               The Home, September 1929 As the seasons start to change I can't help but reflect on how aware I am of it this year. I am seeing buds blooming earlier than I would, seeing the return of the rosellas in my garden and feeling a warmth in the sun that wasn't there before. The wind is still cool, and there has been a fair bit of rain over the last couple of...