A new friend in this community mentioned the song Vienna by Billy Joel the other day, and I realized I’d never really paid attention to the lyrics. After reading her comment, I went back and listened more carefully—and it stopped me in my tracks. The line: “You can get what you want, or you can just get old.” at first it sounds almost harsh. But the longer I sat with it, the more it felt like an invitation rather than a warning. So much of our lives—especially in the U.S.—are shaped by urgency. Hurry. Achieve. Prove. Don’t waste time. As if time is always running out. And yet the song keeps circling back to the same idea: slow down. You’ve got your whole life ahead of you. What struck me most was how differently that line can be interpreted later in life. It’s not about giving up or settling. It’s about presence. About noticing where you are instead of constantly racing toward what’s next. About realizing that aging doesn’t mean being “done,” but maybe finally being allowed to move at a human pace. It also made me wonder how different things might feel if our culture truly valued its elders—not just for what we used to do, but for what we still bring: wisdom, steadiness, perspective, creativity, care. I’m curious: - Have you ever revisited a song, book, or idea later in life and heard it completely differently? - What helps you slow down and appreciate the moment you’re in? - Do you feel pressure to keep rushing—or are you learning how to resist it? I’d love to hear what resonates for you.

So, I did a thing. I took the signature style workbook, answered all the questions and loaded it into my ChatGPT “Sage” (who knows a lot about me) and she gave me a list of what my wardrobe pieces should be. I was able to ask questions about (for example) this pattern of shirt (she said no), or these shoes, (she said yes), or this dress (she said it’s a bad look from the side), and really helped me narrow it down. I also loaded up my body type and how i feel in certain things, and we discussed what’s the best style for the comfort level I’m seeking. I also told her my favorite brands and she included pictures of what my ideal style is. Connie’s workbook gave me the exact foundation needed to fine tune the wardrobe shift. I may not have used it entirely as Connie intended but it was so fun!! If you haven’t watched that classroom Capsule Wardrobe unit- you SO should. ❤️

Happy Tuesday, everyone ☀️ This got buried yesterday, so I'm reposting -- hope you don't mind! As we start a new week, I’ve been sitting with my January theme for the work I’m doing right now: Identity in retirement. Retirement has a way of reshaping how we see ourselves—sometimes in surprising, subtle ways, and sometimes all at once. I’ve been wondering things like: When work fell away, what parts of you stayed front and center? What surprised you about who you became—or are becoming—in retirement? Did your sense of identity feel lighter… or more untethered at first? For those of you who are retired, I’d love to hear what you’ve noticed. And for those who are approaching retirement, I’m curious what you imagine might shift. There’s no right answer—just real experiences. I’m finding that naming these changes, even casually, brings a lot of clarity. Looking forward to learning from your reflections as we begin the week.

I’ve been noticing an interesting trend in 2026 in the decluttering and simplicity space. A lot of creators have shifted from “let’s clear what no longer serves us” to a much stronger message that almost everything is “junk” and that we should stop buying nearly anything at all. It’s made me pause—not in a negative way, but a reflective one. It raises some good questions for me: What’s the difference between clutter and comfort? When does simplifying become freeing—and when does it start to feel limiting? And who decides what’s “junk” anyway? I’m finding myself less interested in extreme rules and more interested in discernment—keeping what supports my life as it is now, and being thoughtful about what I bring in next. Some things really are excess. Others add ease, creativity, or quiet pleasure. I’m curious how this trend is landing for you. Does it inspire you? Or does it make you want to define simplicity on your own terms?

Hello Everyone Please excuse my Oliviah cat memorial picture. (I'm not very tech saavy so could not figure out how to change the picture. I will try soon.) Looking forward to being back in this group. I've been following Connie on youtube for about 4-5 years now and find her videos very encouraging and calming. Looking forward to getting to know everyone better. I live in rural NH in the USA. Married to Skip for 36 years, have 2 grown sons, one daughter in law and 2 beautiful grandsons! I'm a private piano teacher and a church accompanist. I'm needing motivation to continue my massive decluttering projects.