Going down memory lane, but not too far

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Not everything is black and white

When a year ended and a new year begins, we tend to go down memory lane. We review the great moments, our achievements, but also remember the bad things. The danger is to get get too far in the negative and overlook the postives we experienced.

Just looking at the past in black and white is like assuming success is a straight line. On the contrary, in all kind of life situations, success is a road of failure after failure. Those who learn from the mishaps finally achieve their goals. They then can set a new goal. And yes, it’s that treatmill of trial and error again until the next goal is achieved.

Always remember: A black and white outfit is great, but an outfit with the shades or gray is so much more pleasant, not only for the eye. Thus, when letting the past year pass in front of your eyes remember

Don’t get trapped in the past. The bad things were back then. They are not happening now. They closed a door, but opened the way for new pathes. Just choose wisely. Keep going.

Set realistic goals

Don’t set yourself up for failure. For instance, challenging yourself to loose 20 lb, get into bikini shape, cook your own healthy meals every day, save enough money for a cruise thru the Northwest Passage in August and earning more income by taking on a second job is not only a recipe for failure, but also for frustration and you may even achieve the opposite. Gain weight, eat junk food, loose money on medical bills. There goes your health, the cruise, and career.

Every goal needs time to achieve

Thus, celebrate the baby steps. Florence Griffith-Joyner did not sprint 100 m in 10.49 seconds when she made her first step as a toddler. Personal style doesn’t come over night. It’s not enough to just bookmark xillions of “How to look stylish in??” posts. It’s all about putting the theory into action. Going back to the example of style, it’s about not only knowing what the style secrets are, but also applying them when dressing in a very personal way.

Take personal style as an example

In style, the making it personal, i.e. making it all you, is the hard part. As you know you can be your biggest saboteur by buying/wearing clothes that don’t fit, are the wrong color, don’t work for your lifestyle, bodyshape, etc. Buying, keeping, wearing the wrong clothes, but following all the “how-tos” doesn’t make a woman a Style Icon like Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, Michelle Obama, Melania Trump, Duchesse Kate, or Lyn Slater.

Set short-term, medium term and long-term goals

Yes, set New Year’s resolutions. Get started to become the new you. But set priorities in your goals that make you happy along the way to achieving the big (long-term) goals. Be realistic.

One dress size is about loosing 5-9 lb! Going one dress size down by summer, adding one healthy meal a week and opting for a cruise to Glacier Bay will get you more readily to a healthier you, eventhough these goals are just a shade of gray instead of pure white. But it’s better than black. Isn’t it?

What are your style, health and beauty goals for the New Year? What are you struggling with on the way to looking your best?

Winter work outfit inspiration

Here I am wearing a red-white and blue office look. Typically, one associates these colors with summer due to our National Colors. However, since the plaid is in these colors, it’s sort of instant style to add a blue halftee and a red V-neck sweater (or the other way around). To avoid that the midi skirt – they are tricky on petites like me – drowns me, I opted for my blue tall boots. For more outfit inspirations on how to wear tall boots see the post at the link.

When you like the free outfit tips of this post, and want styling tips for all kind of dressing situation in midlife, buy my book How to Dress for Success in Midlife.

Like this outfit inspirations? Then feel free to pin it to your own Pinterest board.

First Top of the World Style fashion party of the year

Welcome! This 187^th Top of the World Style linkup is the first of the new year. When you are new, welcome. We are glad you are here. You can register to receive an email invitation each week for the party.

By linking up, you agree that I can use a photo from your linked post in case you become the Top of the World Style Winner, Top of the World OOTD Readers’ Fav or Top of the World OOTD My Fav. Thanks for the permission. 🙂

Please link only outfit posts and visit the party’s guests’ posts and say Hi.

The awardees are …

Congrats! Download your award logo from the Linkup Directory to post it in your sidebar or on your award page.

All fashionisters and fashionistas, fashion and style lovers are welcome!

Let me give you some free promo. Tweet your linked post using the hashtag #TopoftheWorldStyleLinkup @HighLatitudeSty and I will retweet your link.

Fashion and style friends,
This is the first time I use InLinkz’ new version that they want us to transfer to soon. To be honest, I am not very keen of it. One has to create an account with them to link up to a blogger’s party. Linking up used to be easier back in the early days. It’s my understanding that this new way is a consequence of the GPDR. What do you think?

Click the blue frog button to get to the party space.

This post was featured in Links à la Mode by Independent Fashion Bloggers

Photos of me: G. Kramm

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