Statutes of The Modern Gentlewoman
I think of this space not as static or complete, but as a growing organism that is always evolving and improving and becoming more vibrant and full (just like the minds behind it). In order for it to feel a little more cohesive and sensible, here are a few core beliefs that encompass what we value and talk about here!
STATE OF GRATITUDE
Living from a state of gratitude. Gratitude has a radical power in and through our lives. It’s a very special source of energy and joy. We yearn and grow to embrace it within our selves, in our everyday, and throughout our world.
THE ART OF WOMANHOOD
Womanhood can be quite the surprising, complicated and trying experience to those subjected to it. It’s a multifaceted journey that unites those with wrinkly life worn hands bearing diamond rings and tiny chubby soft hands with sloppy pink nail polish. I don’t know many of us who really knew what we were getting into when we began, and at age 23 the mystery seems greater than ever. It seems that acquiring that art of being a woman, a good one, is a lifelong task and a great skill. That’s why this, here, is an exploration.
We’ll be looking to women who have really mastered an area for their wisdom, looking to history for its insight, looking to the future for vision, looking into the depths of our own hearts to reveal the rawness and beauty there, looking into any place we can find value to give to the journey of womanhood! We hope this exploration to be a source of encouragement, consolation, and enrichment. A place that inspires and gives value for you to become your own kind of woman, fully and gloriously!
EMBRACING BEAUTY
Beauty is life-giving. Cultivating beauty is the bravest thing you could do! Beauty conveys hope, strength, wholeness, and goodness. We see it as a special power and gift that women possess. When the dictionary talks about it, it says the word especially pertains to women. Beauty is life-giving, just like women are, and we see both of those things as being very important around here! Perhaps that’s why the word it has made the Statutes list twice. We don’t see beauty as so much of a luxury or past time, but rather, an essential part of life around which everything else ought to fall into place.
BEAUTY OVER PERFECTION
So very many definitions stand of beauty, but one thing seems to be present in the ons around us: you must be perfect to be beautiful. We believe on the contrary, that perfection really has nothing to do with beauty - it’s not even a part of the conversation. The dictionary defines “beautiful” as something like this: possessing qualities that give great satisfaction, delighting the mind and senses; a pleasing quality; grace; charm. We tend to agree.
We take an inside-out approach to beauty, first enriching the heart, mind, and soul. Then, just as important and enjoyable, nourishing and embracing our bodies, dressing for our figure, finding what we love for ourselves, creating rewarding beauty rhythms, collecting the very best products, and so on! We also surround ourselves with beauty, even if it’s the simple things, like a clean fresh space or giving ourselves fifteen minutes to breathe in the sunrise air!
INTENTIONALITY
A life lived on purpose. We only have on precious life to live and it’s all too easy to get caught up and swept off by a million things. Intentionality is a thoughtful approach to life, one that savors each day and each season and makes choices that we truly desire. When we are 80, we want to be able to say, "I have lived well! I am happy with how I have spent my journey." It’s not controlling the circumstances or expecting perfection, but instead, going into each day, moment, or season with the simple thought: I will live out my best in this.
BEING OVER ACHIEVING
What is the source of happiness and satisfaction in life? The quality of the moments in which we fully exist, our experience of ALIVENESS! Here, we place a great importance on being alive - really, fully, wildly ALIVE! It’s easy to get so caught up in the doing tat we forget to just…be. To be present with the moment we are living in. If we don’t fully exist in the moment we are in, when will we ever really live? Doing things is a very necessary and important part of life, but that’s just the point. . . it’s a part of life. The thing is, not doing to the detriment of living. It’s not so much about doing less as not using accomplishment as a measurement of happiness!
