🔇The sound of silence
We are back after a 3-week hiatus. Things happen in life that we cannot predict or prevent. How do we bounce back? How do we prepare ourselves for the inevitable? At work and in life. How do we best manage uncertainty, stress, and constant change? We need to be prepared because surprises and unexpected changes are just that… surprising and unexpected.
The Monumental Me mission is to ensure you reach your full potential for both personal and professional wellness. We are on a quest to bring curated tools to you and to all people in need so you can be prepared, resilient, and ready for what’s next. This letter is one of our tools. Many people do not have the time and resources to access the very best tools to help manage all that is needed to come out of a difficult time or unexpected experience better than before or to build a career that really works for them.
With that in mind, have you heard the buzz about Carrie Bradshaw and the Diana Dress that Norma Kamali Inc. cannot keep in stock? Because people still LOVE Sarah Jessica Parker and SITC and they want to look beautiful in a timeless, forgiving, and stunning dress … Welp, neither had I.
Until last week when I met the “invincible” Norma Kamali. Designer of the Diana Dress (and many more iconic looks over the past 50 years). She is also the self-made fashion and beauty heavy hitter, re-inventor, un-intentional feminist, career advisor, and unexpected wellness guru. Norma was talking about her book “I Am Invincible” to a small gathering of New Yorkers, including me. I didn’t just hear her speak, we met, connected, shared our driving purpose… we had a moment. And it is moments like these that I want to share with everyone I can. The moment leads me to dig deeper and I want to share Norma’s wisdom, warmth, generosity, stories, life experiences, drive, and purpose of helping all people cultivate beauty from the inside out. We can bring you statistics and interviews to encourage and guide you on how to be your authentic self. And our recent interview with Ripa Rashid on The Mindshare Podcast served to do just that. However, what I found in Norma Kamali’s talk and her new book is evidence, inspiration, and tools to be your authentic self and to do that in a holistic and practical way. Before we can be authentic at work, we must start from within. We strive for beauty and search for the fountain of youth and energy in products and procedures but the energy must really be cultivated, by us. And that takes work.
Norma Kamali, speaking to a small group of New Yorkers May 11, 2022. A 75-year old accidental wellness guru.
I am actually NOT recommending you buy her book. I mean, it is full of great advice, it is visually stimulating and retro 70s/80s fun to flip through... But it is somewhat exclusive, it may come off as entitled and un-relatable to those of us who are not in the regular Vogue magazine fan base, and there is a super skinny model running through the book in a bikini, which can be annoying. Also, it costs $35. So purchase it if you want, but I AM recommending you snag some of her best advice through what I heard my very own self, and what sparked our connection, the top 11 things we already share at Monumental Me. We have shared all of the following ingredients to wellness and success before I even MET Norma or her book, but I am thrilled to loosely paraphrase my new BFF on our mindshare here:
Take care of yourself
Know your purpose
Eat healthily
Prioritize sleep
Exercise
Give back through social impact initiatives
Relationships are key
De-clutter
Stick to rituals that serve you (e.g., bedtime, exercise, work, beauty regime)
Dance
Identify your strengths and use them to live a fulfilling life.
And hopefully, someday soon, you will listen to Norma yourself on The Mindshare Podcast. The invitation to her is out there. She is a super busy woman, revealing her next “collection” in a week or two, protecting her wellness regime, and spending time with the love of her life… but I am hopeful she will join us. I can dream. And just MAYBE you will then get to hear her story, in her New York accent, and her answer to my signature question “What would you tell your 26-year-old self Norma?”
A 20-something Norma Kamali, married, working in fashion, and soon to have to walk away from her own business and marriage before the age of 30. I want to hear what she would tell her 26-year-old self!
Today, you can listen to my conversation with Ripa Rashid on how to be your Authentic Self on The Mindshare Podcast wherever you prefer to get your podcasts or HERE. Or, search our podcast library for inspirational conversations on wellbeing, finding your purpose, working in fashion, and a number of other related topics.
My point, what we are sharing is useful and essential to a long and prosperous life. There isn’t much we can control in this crazy world (see the heartbreaking headlines of the week!), but the 11 points above… welp, you can personally influence each and every one.
🧡Liana