This is the week before Christmas and this is going to be the last week of the year, am taking this opportunity to look back at some of the highlights of 2021 as well as trying to capture the energy to take me into 2022.
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| In reflection 2021, and Navigating forward 2022. Are you already setting goals on where you truly want to improve? The goal to always have in mind is to end the year better than you started. |
In reflection, 2021 is a year that has most of us in many highs and lows personally, business-wise, and socially. Limits to our freedoms, and though at times during lock-down, we can't help feeling completely remote; we're cut off from our usual environment. The escalating of the pandemic and uncertainties took us on a whirlwind of emotions. It is a year of ensuring mental and physical fitness. Isolation and loneliness have become urgent issues during the pandemic. We learned with speed to cope with various essential survival skills and many found solace in the isolation through upskilling for self-development, picking up courses in gardening, which according to psychologists, growing and connecting with plants has a therapeutic impact on mental health and others engaged with social issues like women empowerment, and others, to make a personal and collective impact.
This year marks moments of great loss also. I believe each and everyone has a story to tell and just take the time during these festive holiday seasons to daydream and for reflection.
For now, Christmas is coming and is also a time to take stock of your list of 'DOs' for 2022.
To paraphrase Coco Chanel: Fashion changes, but style remains
1. Shelve the sweatpants
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| Dress the message. The clothes you wear and the way you groom yourself will change the way other people hear what you say. It is also about TRUST and DISTRUST |
Look Sharp and Be Sharp: The CLOTHES You Wear Change What People Hear You Say.
This year has been a dreadful year for style, a miserable follow-up to a formidable 2020. I'm not talking about fashion here. Most people did not care much for the clothes they were wearing in the first place while the key focus was the pandemic-related issues like health and general wellbeing, staying safe, and having sufficient basic essentials.
Let 2022 be the year we fight back. Make a list of wardrobe must-have items, bringing your own Personal Style back as one of the resolutions or 'dos' for the new year. Some of the readers may have a different view on this, it is just a representation of some tactics in bringing back your style. Wearing the right clothes are more important than ever, as it has that power effect to make you look good and feel good, bringing out the image factor of you. Why don't you take this opportunity to improve the channels of communication? Ask a few of the more promising male and female friends around you, what if they wish to bring back their self-true style, would acquire for the new year. Talking about clothes with them could inspire some kind of revelation. As with discussions of the weather, often when people talk about fashion they are talking about life and love, especially now, is getting very interesting, don't you think? The world is changing in ways we cannot yet see. And who knows, perhaps fashion will lead the way as it did in the sixties.
2. Wear shoes that bring out the sparkle in you
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| Adding an off-duty pair for HIM |
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| A pair of Sarah Jessica Parker (SJP) inspired stilettos can instantly add sparkle to HER wardrobe, and dress up for the festive season. |
Most men have just two pairs of shoes (excluding trainers, and sandals), brown and black. Try adding a pair of off-duty, in-the-field looks that can match with jeans and a crisp white shirt. It can be a pair of smart-casuals that can bring you from an interview with a VIP client to strolling deep into a development site. As for the ladies, bring back your stilettos, with features like improved balance, better face hardness, fashionably comfortable, and durability. One great recommendation would be the podiatric tested fashion footwear by Nottingheels. Remember, it does not have to be at the price same as 'caviar', but the goal for this season is not only to reclaim control of your life but, as well to bring out the sparkle in you.
3. Hunt down a cool, great-looking, cheap watch.
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| Each watch always has a story to tell- what is the heritage of the brand, the features, the maker, and more. |
I do not like fancy watches, which are usually rather done without. If you are a fan or a collector of watches (especially vintage), and if you already have plenty of them, and frequently attend the annual Horological wonders of events, in Geneva and around the world, watches do hold a special place in your heart. In case you are one of those, despite the varieties of watches you have in your wardrobe collections, you will still get a thrill at admiring new styles, be they bejewelled watches or cheap watches. Each watch always has a story - what is the heritage of the brand, the features, the maker, the hours spent making the intricacies of a watch, or simply, a watch that is simple, a watch that is purely aesthetic, instead of its grandeur, its heritage, or price.
4. Find a stylish gift to express
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| Give stylish gifts to express your style |
Mind your manners and bring gourmet gifts for the host and r.s.v.p. to the invitation if you are invited to a Christmas or year-end luncheon or dinner event. Unsure about what to get your host? Give stylish gifts to express your style. Take a cue from a conversation with the host inner circle, and you'll always be the guest who's invited back. You can also contribute something when being invited to a home, either to bring a dessert or drinks, bring some old movies on DVD or a game. Don't worry about how much to spend. "If you have money to spoil your friends, why not? That said, many inexpensive gifts can be thoughtful. Everyone loves chocolate, but a lovely bag of coffee or pair of candlesticks are more unusual ways of saying thank you." Do bring a present to a dinner party. "A bottle of wine is the minimum, but I'm always in awe of people who bring something else as well. It doesn't have to be big- it could be a book or a magazine you know they love, that you picked up on a trip somewhere. Just be imaginative!"
5. Read one good book every month
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| Ask friends or visit a local book store for recommendations of a good book to your library. |
I had read many great best books in past years, from biographies to motivation, leadership, strategies, arts, culture, and many life inspirational non-fictions. While browsing through the bookstores, I spotted another great book, 'Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life" by Hector Garcia and Francesc Miralles, which is also a best seller. It is an introduction to a variety of topics, related to "the art of living". It is also about 'SIMPLICITY" and attention to detail. According to the book, "There is a passion inside you, a unique talent that gives meaning to your days and drives you to share the best of yourself, and if you don't know what your Ikigai is, your mission is to discover it." Our Ikigai is different for all of us, and one thing that everyone with a clearly defined Ikigai has in common is that they pursue their passion and the reason we get up in the morning feeling excited. for those of you who are into self-therapy through reading, this could be a good book to have in your library for 2022.
6. Be a great conversationist with style
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| Great conversation flow spontaneously, create uplifting VIBE and leave you upbeat and energized. |
Good conversation is as stimulating as black COFFEE, and just as hard to sleep after.
-Anne MorrowLindberg
When being invited to a lunch or dinner, there are great ways to start a conversation. You can start by commenting on the situation or activity that you and another person are involved in. Say something like, "I see you're very well known in the industry you are in, as I was at the events you attended recently, too." Compliment someone on their appearance or other attributes. For example, with the guest sitting or standing next to you, "You have a wonderful necklace (or tie if it is a man)." Or to the host, "That's a beautiful tablecloth." Or if you are sitting alone or if you see someone alone, invite the person to join you, or vice versa. And if it is the other person asking to join your table, say something like, "I'd be happy to have you join me." And always remember, table manners and not forgetting dining etiquette, if you are sitting next to someone at a dining table, offer to serve the drinks or pass out the refreshments. Last but not least, greet the guests at the event and introduce yourself. Just walk up to the person you would like to meet, smile warmly, offer your hand and say, for example, "Hi, I'm Sally, Marie's friend."
It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you'll do things differently.
- Warren Buffet-
7. Speak with Elegance
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| How you speak is crucial for your self-image presentation in gaining trust and respect. |
Do you know people judge us instantly by the way we speak? People can assume various things about us from our level of sophistication and how well we can fit into their inner circle. How you speak is crucial for your self-image presentation in gaining trust and respect. Learning to speak with elegance and poise, help you win relationships, friendships, and business deals. The moment you meet someone for the first time, the person mentally starts processing information: Are you someone approachable or to avoid? Do you have status and authority? Are you trustworthy, competent, likeable, confident, or someone that can do business with? All it takes is about 2 to 60 seconds before someone has already made a preliminary judgement of us. They are very hard to undo once the first impressions are made.
8. Find your space
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| For a reality check of your busyness, ask the question: Are you in your effective space and using your time to be your highest and best self? |
Finding your space and reclaiming time for yourself is key to achieving what you want. 'Busyness and Effectiveness' are two different matters. Are you substituting your busyness with effectiveness? Are you aware that 80% of the things we do are busy things we do in an area that is NOT bringing us effectiveness? According to statistics and studies, an average person is only doing 20% of the things that they are gifted at and talented in. So ask the question, are you in your effective space and using your time to be your highest and best self? For some of the readers who are working from home, you may find that the line between working hours and personal hours is blurred. Many are waiting to go back to the office and get back to work-life balance. Due to years of working from an office space, as I see it, there is a strong correlation between spatial boundaries and the way we treat time. Having different spaces for work and play helps us to divide the day into chunks of time for working and doing other desired, meaningful activities. Being aware of and finding your space helps us to dedicate time to other things that give us value and worth.
9. And if is your style to make one lasting change in the world, it would be...
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| Using Books to promote literacy and create a positive mindset around reading. When the students show that positive behaviour, instead of candy or chips or something that isn't really good for them, we want to reward them with books so that they can really grow in that capacity. |
As for me, it would be education for underprivileged children, which provides scholarships and mentoring for young talents. Despite the fact that I was born into a large family, and our parents were having the bare minimum resources, they strived to ensure we were not denied an education. I am who I am because of the access to education, and given opportunities to continue life-long learning. We work with the various social-economic platform and has an active corporate social responsibility element in most of our learning programs and activities. We support strategic partners to promote literacy and promote learning among the illiterate.
10. Show compassion and expand your happiness
Are you seeking further Refinement in 2022?
If you are someone who is seeking a life of fulfillment, reach your optimal potential, loving what you do, love to dress well, believing in Style over Trends, aspired trailblazer to 'look good, feel good (physically and mentally), ready to a journey of life-long continuous learning for self-growth, and appreciate being elevated to a 'Life Well Lived', focusing on what is necessary over essentials, this is the place for you.
Or if you feel the need to rediscover your Colour and Style Personality, or your Personal Positioning, do reach out to Refinement Society to discuss your personal and life goal.
Leave a comment below and share with us your broad experiences where you feel the message that Refinement is affecting your life and success.
Wishing you and your loved ones a very safe and Blessed Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Image Credit: Unsplash
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