I mused on the tradition of making new years resolutions as I enjoyed the beauty that is found in decay. I was pointed in the direction of the thoughts of Pamela Redmond Satran
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own, even if she never wants to or needs to…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
a youth she’s content to leave behind….
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a past juicy enough that she’s looking forward to
retelling it in her old age….
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ….
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE
one friend who always makes her laugh… and one who lets her cry…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .
a feeling of control over her destiny.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
how to fall in love without losing herself.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
when to try harder… and WHEN TO WALK AWAY…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
that she can’t change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
that her childhood may not have been perfect…but its over…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
what she would and wouldn’t do for love or more…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
how to live alone… even if she doesn’t like it…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..
whom she can trust, whom she can’t, and why she shouldn’t take it personally…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
where to go…
be it to her best friend’s kitchen table…
or a charming inn in the woods…
when her soul needs soothing…
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…
what she can and can’t accomplish in a day…
a month…and a year…
Not resolutions as such (and very Americanised) but they did make me wonder what I have learnt along the way...This year I will be concentrating on the Cordless Drill and the Black Lacy Bra. Is this liely to change my life (in a good way)?
By the way the final picture is of a birthday gift wrapping inspired by the Etc book I shared a couple of posts back. It's made from the Victorian velvet which covered my father's old writing slope before it was restored and bound with some old upholstery webbing and held together with an upholstery needle's stitch. The ends were tied with old twine. Possibly the most thoughtfully wrapped birthday gift I've ever received...(Apparently it was cheaper than wrapping paper!)
Love Wend
A woman should stand back and appreciate the skill of others...
ReplyDeletewithout the teensy-weensiest bit of envy in her womanly curves...
Love the pictures Viv and the effort gone into typing this blog. I salute you! LLX
Still awaiting my copy of etc (should have arrived on 31st) and my DD cordless.
Wendy this is an amazing post, thank you!!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading that. Happy New Year.
ReplyDeleteOhhh what an amazing post i loved it so inspirational to, i have never heard this but what a great mantra to copy and put on your notice board. Happy new year to you and i hope its a magical one for you. Dee x
ReplyDeleteGreat post, enjoyed reading that Linda x
ReplyDeleteComing close to my own birthday this week and sitting thinking about achievements(and lack of!). Funny having a birthday at this time of year isn't it? I actually love the look of that last photo and the wrapping. Hope you had a special day whatever you did!
ReplyDeleteThat's some list, it certainly set me thinking. Love the de-constructed roses - and I really want to know what is in that parcel.
ReplyDeletehappy birthday to you too
What an interesting post! I will be pondering on it this morning. :0)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Jill here Wend. I want to know what's in that parcel... is it a set of screwdrivers to add to your drill and black lacy bra? Some great individual lines in that list. Thanks for keying them all in. Happy Birthday for whatever day it was! Lesley
ReplyDeleteWise advice...
ReplyDeleteAm not doing too badly with your list. Used to always have matching plates and wine glasses, til the kids started helping unload the dishwasher, and now ... I haven't! Will work on that one and some of the others in 2011!
ReplyDeleteI love this post x
ReplyDeleteI LOVED that post, thank you x
ReplyDelete