Princess Theodora von Auersperg

The Fine Art Of Living Well – A Symphony

Posted by Princess Theodora von Auersperg on July 22, 2019 · 1 Comment 

The term ‘Lifestyle’ of better ’Luxury Lifestyle’ has become very popular and common lately. In my opinion it has been overused and overrated. Brands with a large variety of product lines have been built around it  and yet I feel that it has lost its true meaning.

By definition “Lifestyle” means a way of living for individuals, families (households), and societies, which they manifest in coping with their physical, psychological, social, and economic environments on a day-to-day basis. Lifestyle is expressed in both work and leisure behaviors patterns and (on an individual basis) in activities, attitudes, interests, opinions, values, and allocation of income. It also reflects people’s self-image or self-concept; the way they see themselves and believe they are seen by the others. Lifestyle is a composite of motivations, needs, and wants and is influenced by factors such as culture, family, reference groups, and social class. The analysis of consumer life style (called psychographics) is an important factor in determining how consumers make their purchase decisions.

At a certain point in my professional life industry peers gave me the nickname of a beauty and lifestyle connoisseur. I felt honored that my appreciation and sense for the finer things in life was recognized in such a way and so I chose to keep that identification and title.

Gladly and with great excitement I have always been looking forward to reviewing new product lines and share my opinion and point of view when asked.

What a marvelous world of diverse and limitless creativity we live in!  Daily creative people all around the world live up to Einstein’s statement that “imagination is more important than knowledge.” All major fashion/lifestyle brands are competing on a daily basis how to celebrate life and its diversity and beauty. At the same time, they are overwhelming most of us, trying to get our attention by running their daily social media race, that we all got more or less used or addicted to.

Is it possible at all to keep up with all the constantly changing trends and styles – even if we had almost unlimited financial resources to do so? At the end of the day all this tremendous effort and creativity is after all about driving sales and revenue growth and outperforming the competition while making the consumer happy. But does that really make us happy in the long run, instant gratification set apart?

Lately I started wondering  how someone, who already has everything and can afford to acquire anything his or heart desires, who is not bound to any social or economic limitations and lives a lifestyle that most can only dream of, would define lifestyle or better the fine art of lifestyle? Maybe the right question would be: “What is the fine art of lifestyle and how do we live it?”

I believe that there is no set path in regard to living the art of fine lifestyle. The meaning and outcome of the fine art of lifestyle is open to a wide range of interpretations.  Each individual has to decide for himself what it means and based on his or her chosen avenue cultivate the outcome and suitable environment for his life.

I will still continue to value and appreciate the finer things in life and their beauty and magic. There is such an immense outburst of creativity in the fields of art, fashion, beauty, interior design, even food and beverage, that one can get easily mesmerized by it, not to mention get addicted to acquiring and accumulating more and more of all these fine things in life.

Yet recently I was prompted to reconsider what makes me truly happy and to reevaluate what my interpretation and understanding of the fine art of lifestyle is at this stage in my life.

I happened to come across a quote by William Ellery Channing which reflects my current sense and sentiment  for the fine art of lifestyle and inspired me to give it some deeper thoughts:

“To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common. this is my symphony.” – What is your symphony?

~ Princess Theodora von Auersperg