Hi and Happy New Year!
I always wonder at what point in the new year it is no longer considered acceptable to make reference to it, and while I do personally believe that January 6th is definitely pushing it, I’m still feeling very excited for this fresh start (as I’ve declared here often — I am very much a “New Year’s person”).
In this issue, I cover my personal manifestations and thoughts on joy, recent purchases, and my weekly art curation of the best art under 50 and 100 Euros.
Let’s brunch!
I spent New Year’s Eve at home with a friend, working on our resolutions and manifestations for 2024. One of my main goals for this year is to remember to continually seek joy.
The Instagram account @everyoutfitonsatc recently shared a clip of Sarah Jessica Parker’s character, Carrie Bradshaw, in a moment of comically unfiltered elation at the sight of the Eiffel Tower for the first time. The caption jokingly quipped “I have never been this excited about anything in my life” which made me think of the first time I saw the Eiffel Tower. I have to admit, I had a reaction extremely similar in nature to Carrie.
I couldn’t help but wonder, why do we seemingly refuse to embrace unadulterated joy?
This scarcity of pure happiness in our lives, particularly in a world dominated by filters and facades, feels puzzling, as if societal norms dictate that exuberance should be restrained, or risk being judged. There's an invisible rulebook dictating that genuine happiness should be masked behind nonchalance. Fears of being labeled as "too much" or "over the top" loom ominously, regularly squashing our instinct to revel openly in moments that truly captivate us. It's something of an internalized notion as well, fearing that authentic delight might seem excessive or immature, evoking a sense of “cringe”.
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