When I am asked how I might think about beauty and wellness, I have two answers. The first is that it is a visceral feeling, or I know it when I see it. I experience a completely involuntary intake of breath when I encounter something or someone who’s beauty moves me, or at least my version of what beauty is. The second aspect of beauty is when I detect a sense of health and well-being. That could be a lush green plant, glowing skin, the vigor in one’s step, a sigh of contentment or I see someone who has taken care with what they choose to wear.
For me daily decisions about what I eat, how I exercise as well as the lifestyle choices I make (except when I become overwhelmed by having two full-time jobs), is dictated by my desire to achieve a state of “wellness” or in a less trendy vernacular, good health, not by societal standards of beauty.
Wellness, simply defined is, “an active process through which people become aware of, and make choices toward, a more successful existence.”. It is further suggested by the National Wellness Institute, that there are six dimensions that explain
- How a person contributes to their environment and community, and how to build better living spaces and social networks
- The enrichment of life through work, and its interconnectedness to living and playing
- The development of belief systems, values, and creating a world-view
- The benefits of regular physical activity, healthy eating habits, strength and vitality as well as personal responsibility, self-care and when to seek medical attention
- Self-esteem, self-control, and determination as a sense of direction
- Creative and stimulating mental activities, and sharing your gifts with others
What is interesting to me is how often through the lens of fashion we have at one time or another addressed through my writing, and your subsequent comments, each of these dimensions and how our interest in fashion accompanies us on both an individual and community journey towards well-being. More and more I see the power of fashion being used for the advancement of human, social and environmental well-being, a delight for me being a professor who seeks to advance the well-being of the human community. The rapidly emerging field of fashion technology is using fashion to solve problems and to promote inclusion. Whether that is designing attractive clothing for those who are wheelchair bound or making a silk like fabric from orange peels, fashion has enormous power to make everyone’s life better (since we all need to wear clothes, right?)
So this week I will be focusing on the fourth dimension (see #4 above) of what I am calling well-being.
What are you doing to support the fourth dimension of well-being? Share your tips and successes!
Hi Lynn,
I’ve just found your blog and I like it a lot, especially your comment about speaking to women who live “interesting but ordinary lives” in cities. I live in a small city, but wish I could divide my time between being surrounded by nature and being enveloped by the energy and vitality of a big city. So many of us lead interesting, ordinary lives (in all sorts of places), and it IS hard to find a source that speaks to that.
I’m 55 years old and trying to go forward in a manner that supports a successful existence and good health. Lots of things fall into that description but your fourth dimension is a focus for me at the moment – healthy eating, movement, self-care. The biggest commitment I’ve made is to get on my mat every morning and move. Stretching, yoga, strength, exercises for my painful shoulder…the goal is to get all the parts working as well as possible and keep them that way. Joseph Pilates supposedly said that "If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. IF it is completely flexible at 60, you are young." I’m working on a young spine! I’ll be interested to see if there is an intersection between my successful life and my relationship to fashion, and to hear more about your fourth dimension.
Thank you for this, I need more stretching in my life and less hunching over my computer!
Hi Lyn! My PHYSICAL well-being is and always has been extremely important to me. Bottom line…if I don’t look good, I DON’T feel good. Sometimes I wish I could get passed that, but then again it keeps me on track! There are many parts to our well-being, and I’m striving for those every day! Mostly right now……….to be COUREGEOUS and STRONG and to BELIEVE in myself! XO
Words for all of us.
Hi Lyn,
My personal path in search of well-being and a better health has been : swearing of alcohol and moving towards a vegan way of eating. Not easy but I’m feeling much better and lighter and more conscious of my impact on nature and my own life. It was not an easy move because a lot of people don’t understand why somebody would change a lifestyle that is totally accepted by society into a "weird" lifestyle.
As well as trying to feel better, I also try to be more "me" fashionwise and I must say your blog is helping me a lot to make individual choices and doing my best not to follow trends but trying to follow my own taste and vision. So, many thanks for that !
Don’t imbibe myself and I have been happy about that practice.
I follow a vegan (no oil Dr Esseltyn) food plan in an area that surely provides no support. So it was eonderful to read this. So happy to have found lyn Slater and her wonderful writing. I have reinvented myself over a lifetime and am passionate about growing and learning. Currently I work in Home Health Care and yes wheelchair bound people need and want better clothes. I wear good simple scrub tops with joggers, yoga pants, wild leggings and my clients seem to love it. When possible they take renewed interest in their clothes. I so believe everything fits together as one whole thing somehow. Guess Im trying to say "caring" seems to be contagious. Im also re commiting to making some weekly exercise a habit. Reading all this good sharing is so enriching and supportive for me. Thanks Mary
I love hearing stories like this. There is something called inclusive design where designers are solving problems like what kind of garment works for someone who is wheelchair bound.
Hi Lyn, my personal path includes eating as healthy as I can which includes the use of superfood powders into my food plan. This combined with mental and emotional and spiritual self-care are all essential as, in order to have physical contentment, the other structures must also be at pease and in place. Enjoying nature and living in the moment are also critical well-being factors.
You remind me that even though it has been very cold a walk in Central Park will do me good!
Or wearing black to the oscars with a community activist as your date. #twooldbitches
Indeed.
For me, it has been work less or at least work more at things I truly enjoy. Move more, eat better, stay chilled, keep learning, have fun and manage pain. As a two-time cancer survivor, I’ve learned that moderate use of cannabis pretty much makes all of it better.
The perfect to do list.
Walking, walking, and more walking. Last year, after I hurt both knees, I had to witness our current world as a sedentary person. It made me a nervous wreck. Walking keeps me calm, whether on the beach or in a city. It also keeps me alert to new things.
Me too, keeps me sane.
Barre3 online videos at home. Low impact exercises that combine pilates, barre, and yoga.
Going to try some stuff for the core as soon as I can.
What a fabulous find this site is- thanks Lyn!
I just flew 19,00kms to spend my 60th birthday in Paris with my 3 gorgeous daughters (all in their 20s) and their partners. As we all live in different countries getting together was particularly special as two years have gone by since we last did so.
I secretly smiled as I kept up our frenetic pace and enthusiasm for four days- I never missed a beat! We loved every minute of it- surrounded by beauty – walking through history, immersing ourselves in a fashion and food fiesta, contemplating timeless art, and enjoying how it all inspired such invigorating intellectual conversations!
I was somewhat surprised how much we all had in common at first then I thought- aha, I sowed those seeds long ago (and they’ve chosen partners who love these things too).
On my actual birthday we walked 22 kms around the city ( including a detour to get that gorgeous coat I’d seen the day before), finishing up at a wonderful restaurant, Noglu, that perfectly satisfied my coeliac needs.
By bringing all things important in my life together culminated in feeling of being fully connected to my family – such a sense of inner peace.
I’m returning home excited and inspired to to keep all things beautiful no matter the context- family, friends, and my job!
What a magical birthday! Every wonderful thing about life.
OMG I am so glad I found your site! Your photos are amazing and your style is absolutely gorgeous and inspiring! 🙂
And one more plus…you will hear from amazing women who also follow here.
I have 2 boys… both have autism. My older son is a designer and is independent in every way. He is brilliant and has made friends in the creative world that have helped him find his personal expression.
My youngest is 22 and still lives with me. He is nonverbal and requires 24 hr supervision. He now understands he needs to be clothed and loves looking fashionable and I think he would lean towards the hipster world if he could tell me.
I keep David smelling nice, clean shaven and fashionable. He has fans all over town in shops we visit.
I don’t believe he would get the attention he does if I weren’t as diligent with style.
If I weren’t around I would still love for David to have the opportunity to look fashionable and have been inspired by your writing as to how.
If there were a service that allowed full ensembles to be rented? It would have to be everything but underwear and that would need to be an optional purchase. I’m talking shoes to beanies.
Maybe someone to advise… definitely someone to advise on what to rent.
Maybe it could even be something charitable as many with this disorder have small budgets.
Fashion gifts social possibly. Everyone needs social interaction in some form in order to live rather than exist.
I would love to make this happen… maybe one day but for now my life is full with caring for my son.
Just a thought…
Thank you for your beautiful insights… truly inspiring
Well Lyn, you got me! I’m 33 and stumbled across your Instagram and spent the last hour on your blog, I applaud your cerebral take on fashion! I have celiac disease so my diet is outlined, but it keeps me lean at 110lbs. For exercise I golf, and Ms Lyn, I think it’s just the sport for you! It’s continuously challenging and always you to enjoy the beauty of nature. Thank your inspiration.
-Taylor
Your brain is the best. Out of it flows ariculated rivers of weath….wisdom…inspiration..guidance. I am 64 and so glad I found you. Keep on keepin on girlfriend.
Brains and fashion should not be mutually exclusive lol. ?
as I read along, i really do think you have demonstrated something what I called "boundless aging". Your philosophy is beyond age and physique. Bravo!
Just found U! 77 yes old but refuse 2 dress or feel like that !