I am not one for New Year’s Resolutions, especially those that aim to make me a better or more perfect person and, therefore, invariably fail. Instead, each year I take my time to alight upon a word, one very important word, that describes how I want to feel within myself for the next 12 months. The feeling part is crucial. Without it, your selection may not truly fulfil you or your needs. For example, many years ago I chose the word ‘discerning’. It was a brilliant choice in terms of organisation, sorting out what I did and didn’t want and so on, but a stronger and more powerful option would have been to find out how being discerning actually made me feel and opt for that instead. It makes every decision so much easier if you use this as your means of enquiry before fully deciding on the outcome.
Towards the end of last year I landed on the word freedom. I had felt weighed down with my mother’s painful, drawn out passing, the slow decline of other relatives and a sense of joy or passion slipping away. Ultimately, it wasn’t enough. What I really coveted was a sense of being lighter and to discard the heaviness of last year. I longed for the liberty to do what I want, when I want, how I want, where I want and with whom I want. So my upgraded word is Lightness. The feeling of lightness, or of being lighter, is what having freedom will give me. I hope you can distinguish the difference in case you want to try this for yourself.
Feng Shui has taught me that when you clear out the clutter, you are in fact creating space in your mind. The overwhelm, anxiety, stress etc caused by having too much stuff, or having people/work/situations in your life that drain you, literally disappears once you have sorted it out. I am, therefore, envisioning my life as a newly cleared shelf. As it’s now empty, I can choose to gradually fill it with what truly nourishes my soul or leave empty spaces if that’s more appropriate. While it’s still full, which it is at the moment, I am unable to do that. As it’s also the Year of the Snake, it seems fortuitous to shed what no longer serves me.
What does this mean?
As I have worked in one capacity or another since my early teens, I think it’s time I took some time out for myself. So, I am taking a gap year, and stepping back from all professional work until mid 2026. Of course, I will honour any diarised commitments until the end April but, after that, all work will cease. This includes Fashion Feng Shui, Substack, speaking at conferences/seminars, personal consultations, image trainings, writing articles and posting on social media. The only thing I am retaining is the monthly Coffee & Conversations, which continue to feed and nurture my spirit as we enter our 3rd year. If you receive my Substack via email, you will still have the necessary information posted to you. Otherwise, click on the link for details. Coffee & Conversation
I once read that our external self always needs time to catch up with our internal. In my case, the clothes I want to wear are not the same as those I require for my professional work. These days, to speak at a conference, or attend a professional style seminar of any sort, usually means buying a new outfit and the anxieties, financial and otherwise that accompany it. Maybe it’s not so prevalent here in the UK, where my simple Scandi style is not only accepted but often revered but I can’t just rock up in jeans and a sweater elsewhere in the world and still feel like I have something relevant and inspirational to offer. The break provides a welcome opportunity to refresh and renew.
Intuitively, I have known for some time that changes needed to be made and now seems like the correct time to put them into action. As a consequence, I’m feeling calm, curious and at ease, and my chakra massage proved it. The pendulum was spinning so wildly, my masseuse said she had never seen such a happy body!
Whether you’re a fairly new Substack subscriber or someone that has been alongside me for the last 2 decades, I truly appreciate your commitment, and your taking the time to put me into your life. What is certain is that, even if I do return at the end of my gap year, I will miss all of you, readers, colleagues, clients, students and friends in the interim. So, I offer you all a HUGE thank you for taking the time to read and listen to my meanderings.
I am going to end this piece with some wise food for thought. It’s from a podcast I have been avidly listening to - thank you
for the reminder - Fashion Neurosis whereby famous people are interviewed by the fashion designer Bella Freud - the creator of my favourite 1970 sweaters.To begin their chat she asks a very profound question “Why did you choose to wear this outfit today?” The responses to this question are varied and so illuminating. I think it’s something we could all ponder when getting dressed. Listen for yourself and then see how you would reply.
Once again, thank you. Maybe I will be back sooner than you think.
Here’s the Thing - with a gap year, you never know what might happen. But leaving a space means everything is possible.
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