Begin now, wherever and whenever you are. Begin to create elegance. Begin to spread it. To seek it out. To bring it to life. Begin to show it. Begin to be elegant.
As civilization declines into a common madness of banality, how will we fight the decline? Join into the decline? Why not?
After all, everyone is doing it. Everyone is dressing down, dropping manners, and rejecting civility.
Being civil is a central part of the word and the concept of civilization.
Manners? Say the word to anyone right out of high school and you risk ridicule or dismissal. So old-fashioned you are!
Is practicing having manners, being civil, and projecting elegance putting on airs? The accusation stings. In a way it seems true, but you know that this is not what you are doing.
Great aunt Maude was born and raised in a logging camp in the deep woods in the late 19th century. As a young girl before the Great War she envisioned a finer life.
Through the practice of elegance and manners she lifted herself. The “airs” she put on became ingrained into her being. Her attitude shaped the rest of her life. Lifting herself out of poverty and ignorance she made a fine lady. Generous and kind with a great sense of humor. No one would suspect from where she came. She never hid it.
No matter where you came from you can change your life.
One practice is through elegance. What is elegance?
We are not talking about money or having money. We are talking about an attitude, a practice, a way of life.
Carry yourself upright. Care about your appearance. Care about what you eat. Be kind to people, open doors for people. Listen. Move with care. Be thoughtful. Practice calm. Watch what you say and how you say it. Develop a deep sense of humor.
There’s is very little time left but it is never too late for elegance.