The world can be an exhausting place. When we leave the house, we can encounter traffic, lines and grouchy people. Even in our homes, there are chores to do and bills to pay. That is why most of us crave something more from life. We want elegance and beauty in our lives. But how can you and I create a beautiful and elegant life when money doesn’t grow on trees?
Realize that a beautiful, elegant life doesn’t require having a lot of money. If you’ve ever watched the show, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, you know that people with an abundance of money can choose to live in a very crass manner. Instead, elegant living comes from making thoughtful choices as to how we spend each day.
Below are some inexpensive ways to bring beauty into your everyday life. Consider adopting these approaches, and see your quality of life improve!
Start Listening to Classical Music
I love all kinds of music – jazz, opera, rock, pop. However, there is something about listening to classical music that transforms our daily experience into something more elegant.
(If classical music isn’t a type that you ordinarily listen to, I encourage you to sit quietly and listen to Mozart’s Serenade in B-flat Major, Adagio for a serene and lovely 3 minutes. Or you might enjoy Bach’s “Gottes Zeit ist die allerbest Zeit,” one of my favorite classical piano pieces of all time.)
Now, back in the day, you needed to have a lot of money to enjoy classical music. You either had to have money to buy albums or CDs, or you had to have money to attend classical music concerts. Today, with nothing more than an Internet connection, you can go on YouTube to enjoy incredible classical music selections for free.
If you are not well-versed in classical music, try a selection of pieces from a particular composer. For instance, if you do a Google search for “the best of Bach” or “the best of Mozart,” you will be treated to a wonderful selection of pieces from the greatest classical composers of all time.
Classical music brings elegance to even the most mundane tasks. There is something quite lovely about cooking while listening to Handel’s “Messiah.” And it is exhilarating to drive the car with Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” playing. Incorporate classical music into your life, and see how your life can become just a little bit more elegant.
To Create A Beautiful And Elegant Life, Become Your Own Chef
Preparing food is a necessary part life. So, you may as well become good at it. When we eat a well-cooked meal, our lives feel a little bit more civilized.
One of the better uses of the Internet is to get great recipes for free. The days of needing to buy a cookbook are over. There are many terrific websites with great recipes. For example, All Recipes and Epicurious are both websites that I go to regularly for top notch recipes. My husband is quite a creative cook, and he looks for interesting recipes from other cultures on cooking blogs.
Food is a big part of an elegant lifestyle. Not only is it comforting at the end of the day to enjoy a top-quality meal with your family, but it is nice to be able to entertain friends with interesting dishes. And once you know how to cook well, I can assure you that there is no restaurant that will be able to compare with your home cooking.
Then don’t stop with just elegant food. You can dine in elegance without breaking the bank. Buy candles and pretty plates to decorate your dining table. I use tealights every evening to decorate my dining area. And although my crockery is pretty and colorful, it certainly isn’t expensive. Just those small touches make every dinner something lovely.
Become A Book Worm
The most effective way that you can bring serenity and peace to your life is to turn off the racket of your television and spend your time reading. There are lots of terrific, informative articles that you can read on the Internet for free. But if you love the feel of a book in your hands, as I do, then consider getting a book from the library, or buy a book at your local bookstore. Books are the one thing in our society that are still reasonably priced!
For me, going to the library or the bookstore is like being a kid in a candy store. It is exciting to have so many great books to choose from. If there is a topic that interests you, I can guarantee that someone has written a book about it. Moreover, if you want to be transported to another world, you can find works of fiction that will take you to places that you’ve never been.
When you read, try to pick high quality literature or books with a positive message. Allow your reading to enrich your life with new ideas and new ways of viewing the world.
This week, try using these simple, inexpensive approaches to create beauty in your life. Remember that having a beautiful, elegant life isn’t about having a lot of money. It is about making good choices about how we live our lives each day. (To read about training your brain to be happy, click here.)
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