In the “maintaining beauty” department I do have a leg up on most people…I have my mother to thank. She has been an inspiration, a guide, a mentor, and an enforcer.

Ever since I can remember, my mother required and demanded beauty around her. it made her happy. She was, and is (she’s 94), disciplined in achieving beauty both in her persona and in her environment. From waking to perform her first morning rituals to going out in public, then in preparing and eating her food, and finally, to closing the day with great style, she has, and always will be, true to her mantra.

I don’t think maintaining beauty is particularly easy, but it is incredibly rewarding. being attuned to creating beauty in everything you do makes you present. The process is as important as the final result. Sometimes we go out of our way, as when we entertain or for a special occasion, where we choose to amp up our resources towards achieving beauty; and if this is done from the heart, I call it giving.

Notice how beauty all of a sudden is not selfish. Beauty : Giving.

I admire and applaud all those who throughout their life make the conscious choice to create and live with beauty in everything they do. I want to learn from them and thank them for being an inspiration and for making the world a more beautiful place.

Maintaining beauty is not having lots of things, maintaining beauty is simply being aware of what you do have.