Charmed Monday Minute, May 19

Hello, lovelies -

We're a day late since this is the day I can be in the glorious presence of radiant Joya, my brilliant assistant who is headed for the graduate program in directing at Arizona State University. This is our official swan song and she'll be teaching me how to send The Minute and do some of the many other things she does so well. Joya: I already missed you and now I miss you enormously. Please invite me when you're up for your first TONY.

In other news, I am in NYC this week and half of next, working on The Charmed Life Handbook and looking at apartments so we can move back. There may be some developments on that to report next week: good thoughts and prayers appreciated.


Victoria

Book of the week: What Would Audrey Do? Timeless Lessons for Living with Grace and Style, by Pamela Keogh (author of Audrey Style), Gotham Books, 2008. You know I rarely use the p-word, but to my mind What Would Audrey Do? is a perfect book. It looks beautiful. It's the right size and shape. It has quality paper and fun illustrations. You could proudly give it as a gift and happily pick up another copy for your very own. And the information in it is so practical, so usable, and so readable, I plan to keep this little gem on my bedside table for months to come. I admire Audrey Hepburn anyway and have long believed that she exemplified what it means to live with grace, style, and compassion. Her life wasn't easy---her father abandoned her and her mother, she survived the lean and frightening times of World War II in Europe and witnessed the Nazi occupation---and she went on to enchant millions as an actress and fashion icon, and inspire millions more as a humanitarian. Keogh so captures Audrey in this charming book that looks at its subject in the myriad aspects of her life and guides us as readers in adopting for ourselves some worthwhile Audrey traits. Two thumbs up. If I had more thumbs, it would be more thumbs up.

Another Admirable Woman: Some of you know the work of Sera Beak, comparative religions scholar, author of The Red Book, and gorgeous, real-life, 30-year-old dynamo who is out to help young women (and anybody else who's game) develop a personal spirituality that rocks. Sera will be on the East Coast in June doing a weekend workshop for women at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck June 2-22, and a Redvolution talk for women AND men in NYC on the 23rd. Here's what she says about the Redvolution: "A Redvolutionary is someone who does not play by the social, religious, cultural, sexual, or political rules. She affects change by daring to be herself, forging a unique path, and serving her planet authentically. She is a "spiritual cowgirl," rebelling against dogma and ideology in order to experience a direct and intimate relationship with the divine. She has a fearless commitment to truth and freedom, chocolate, red wine, and gold body glitter." For information on the Omega workshop, go to www.eomega.org, and for the NYC talk "Redvolution: Dare to Disturb the Universe," (7 to 9 on Monday June 23 at Lila Center, 302 Bowery at Houston, 2nd floor), go to www.theidproject.com. And there's more on Sera at her own site: www.serabeak.com.

FBLNM Brookdale College HIghlights: On Friday of last week, I did the closing keynote for the Brookdale Community College Women's Conference in Lincroft, New Jersey. Welcome to everyone from there who is now subscribing. I promised you (and our other readers) that I'd recap the highlights here: (1) Take care of yourself with M-E-N: meditation, exercise, and nourishing yourself on every level. When it comes to food, make the best choice from what's available. (2) As for your money: What happens in the month stays in the month. Either pay as you go, or pay it off. (3) The key to great relationships: Fall in love with your own life, your own company, and your own self. Then you'll be happy regardless of who else is around, and you'll attract great people into your world.

Where I'll Be: Sunday & Monday June 8 and 9 (and returning July 20-21) - I'm doing the evening lectures on "Younger by the Day" and "How to Live a More Spiritual Life" at the New Age Health Spa, Neversink, NY, www.newagehealthspa.com Thur. June 19-Sunday June 22 - North American Vegetarian Society Summerfest, Johnstown, PA, www.navs.org. They'll have me working a lot and doing various lectures throughout the week on health, well-being, aging well, making peace with food and weight, and bringing your ethics into the real world without being insufferable about it.

Quotation of the Week: "Anyone or anything that does not bring you alive is too small for you." - David Whyte