I’ve lived in San Francisco for nearly 30 years and one of the things I am most grateful for about this city is the way that people seek out creativity, beauty, and joy.
This past weekend my beau, Ian, and I kicked off his 50th birthday by attending The Edwardian Ball. This is one of the most enchanted, eccentric, colorful, sexy, and otherworldly events I’ve ever participated in.
It feels as if everyone who attends or performs does so wholeheartedly — the luscious clothing, the hair, the makeup, the dancing, the shows — it’s magical.
People let themselves play full out.
I’ve never done this before, but I went to the makeup counter of a store and had them do my makeup and apply false eyelashes. Instead of feeling vain or foolish, it made me feel like Cinderella — it took me back to my childhood days in which I might have imagined dressing up for a fancy event.
It felt playful and fun for me.
And you know what? I realized that everything from my stockings to my eyelashes were gifts to Ian.
Because every attention to detail felt like a way of saying, “You are worth it. This moment is worth it. This life is worth it. Let’s play full out!”
Planning for, thrifting for, and attending the ball were such great reminders of how important it is to live with this wholeheartedness.
And you know what? We don’t have to attend a ball to do so!
- We can wear our favorite jewelry to the library.
- We can swing dance with our spouse in the living room in our furry slippers.
- We can have a candlelit dinner of take-out Thai.
- We can splash in the puddles outside.
- We can drink sparkling apple juice with our children out of the crystal glasses.
- We can even go to the makeup counter and get our makeup done and false eyelashes applied to celebrate our birthday pizza-n-movie outing with girlfriends.
Life is fleeting. Celebrate now.
Delights,
Sherry
P.S. You know I LOVE to hear your stories. Please comment and tell me something you promise to do to live wholeheartedly this weekend. If its personal or you don’t have Facebook, feel free to email me!