![\"by-invitation-only\"](\"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/by-invitation-only.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nToday’s post is on sharing. We can interpret it any way we choose.? I had to think about this one. With an exceptionally busy week, unfortunately I did not have as much time to put into this? as I would have liked but I did the best I could given the limited time I had.<\/p>\n
I am so happy to be a part of this exceptional group of bloggers and hope you will consider stopping by the brainchild of this wonderful group, Marsha’s? beautiful blog, Splenderosa<\/a> to see what she has done as well as check out the links to all the other participants, there is always an incredibly inspiring group of posts to read.<\/p>\n So here is what I did……<\/p>\n I took the letters in S H A R I N G and came up with something to share that means something to me, ready to begin? Here we go…..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Solitude. I never thought I would say it….. I, the one who is “Miss Social”? and loves to be with people, my friends, the one who thinks there is no such thing as too many invitations to fun events, LOVES her solitude!? Funny how things change…..<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Don’t get me wrong I still love my friends more than words can possibly describe, and still adore? meeting new people and of course enjoy going out and celebrating with those I care about but I am as comfortable being alone as I am being with others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I have no problem going to a movie by myself or any other place for that matter and actually enjoy my own company. Car rides alone are amongst my favorite. I love the silence and chance to think…..it is golden. If someone told me even ten years ago I would actually like and anticipate solitude I would have laughed at them but ironically I really? have come to see the value in it, not all the time but at certain times. It is almost a form of meditation for me and is an important part of my life now.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Helping out. I believe in doing what you can. For some they are able to give big, or donate generously while for others donations might be small but with big hearts. For some its money and writing out a check, others its their labor and using their hands or minds.<\/p>\n I am my happiest when I am helping out others. It has always been a part of who I am ever since I was very young. I get a lot of emails from readers who ask me my opinion on everything from where to eat and stay in NY to paint colors in my home to brands of towels I like to what kind of olive oil I favor (yes I am serious). I really make it a point to answer as many emails as I can because I do believe in helping out if you are able.<\/p>\n A few months back, I answered one reader on some things she had asked my advice on, I remembered it well because there were several questions and my first thought was to tell her this would fall under my e design services but that day I had some spare time and was feeling generous, so? I just answered her questions.? She was so grateful for my reply and that was that, she did ask my address and I figured she wanted to write me a thank you note.<\/p>\n Then a few weeks later, she followed up with the most wonderful basket of Italian goodies from one of my favorite spots in NYC (she remembers my mentioning this place in a post)? telling me how my advice on helping her with her new apt. gave her renewed hope and inspiration and she went on to explain that her husband had passed away just three months ago and she was struggling to make this new life for herself. She used the words that “I helped to change her life”.? I cannot tell you how overjoyed? and overwhelmed I was that I had taken the time to respond that day (having? no idea what she had been through). So do what you can, big or small, you never know the impact it might have on someone…….<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n AM. I am my best in the morning, very early morning. I get up normally at around 5:30 naturally. There are days I wish I could actually sleep in but I think I have forgotten what that even is. Ironically though when the house is very quiet and all you hear is the brewing of my coffee machine, the early am hours are treasured. I often do my “best work” in the morning and find the peace and solitude incredibly inspiring and calming. In fact guess what time it is as I am writing this…..5:44 am (and my Peets coffee is right next to me to insure I wake up and am fired up for the day)!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Realizing dreams. This is a big one for me. I have always been a dreamer, ever since I can remember. I always had a very vivid imagination and nothing ever felt off limits and like it wasn’t possible. But I often stopped at the dreaming stage, didn’t move on to the actual pursuance.? Now that I am in my “late 40″s” I am realizing time is not slowing down if anything it seems to be speeding up! I am finding myself getting a little braver and a little bolder in taking that next step from having a dream to actually realizing a dream (and I am just getting started)!<\/p>\n The tole line is one example, I had always wanted to create a line and this time I bit the bullet and just went for it. I always say I don’t want to be 85 and wonder “what if”. So I am getting a little more brazen with my dreams and chances are when you look at someone whom you admire who has achieved something that you aspire to, the only difference between you and them is that they had the gumption to pursue their dream.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Instagram! I admit I am a bit of a convert. I never understood it and though I am hardly addicted as some are, I have to say it is awesome to be able,? with the click of a button to see so many incredible inspiring images at my fingertips. Talk about instant gratification! I have discovered some amazing things from Instagram,? from recipes to new designers, incredible travel destination to talented architects. Instagram is indeed quiet a nifty little app! Some of my recent favorites…….<\/p>\n ? <\/p>\n Nature. I have to admit the older I get the more I am drawn to, inspired by and crave nature. Is there anything more amazingly beautiful? I feel so calm when I get to walk amongst the trees or spend a little time in my tiny garden. Whether I am at a nursery or arboretum, I am always inspired by the gift of nature, and in all four seasons there is always something magical to behold. I honestly never feel as calm and as at peace as I do when I am surrounded by nature and the older I get the more I cherish and value it, every single season.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n And last but not least….. girlfriends of course! Life would be so boring without them!? I think if you are lucky to have one great friend, you are very blessed. To have more you are incredibly lucky. I consider myself incredibly lucky. Time spent with my friends is always cherished and anticipated. Even with our busy schedules, we always carve out the time to see each other even if its not quite as often as it used to be.<\/p>\n We have all forged our own paths and many of us are pursing different interests now that our kids are spreading their wings but special time with friends is such an important part of my life and a necessity to keep me happy, balanced and thriving! So a special thank you to each and every one of them, and that goes to my blogging friends and my readers too!<\/p>\n ? <\/p>\n Well there you go. Anything here resonate with you? If so, what? I would love to know. Thank you as always for stopping in. I love hearing from you, if? you want to see other interpretations of this sharing post click here? to visit? Splenderosa<\/a> where the entire list of participants will be listed. Hope you have? a beautiful day!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n A special current promotion was announced last night, only on for 2 days, this is a goodie! Below is a sneak peek, click here to see the promotion<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hi well we are back…….hard to believe summer is over and fall is just around the bend.? The wonderful group I am a part of, By invitation Only takes a reprise over the summer and resumes in the fall….so here we are! Today’s post is on sharing. We can interpret it any way we choose.? […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[1101,1127,1786],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12763"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12763"}],"version-history":[{"count":32,"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12763\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12872,"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12763\/revisions\/12872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12763"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12763"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.enchantedhome.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12763"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}S<\/h1>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nH<\/h1>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA<\/h1>\n
<\/a><\/h1>\nR<\/h1>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/h1>\n
I<\/h1>\n
<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\nN<\/h1>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nG<\/h1>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"