Hi Reader,

Do you usually wait for others to give you permission to do something? I don't mean getting permission to go somewhere or to speak to someone. It's a bit sneakier than that.

I'm talking about giving yourself permission to take a break.

If you're an ambitious woman, you probably know exactly what I'm talking about. You have a million things on your daily to-do list that you want to do, finish, fix or start. So sometimes it feels easier when your partner, boss, friend or parent says, "Hey, you've been doing a lot lately. Don't you think it would be a good idea to take a break?"

And you hear it, but.... do you listen?

Last week, I wrote about those days when my body basically says, "Nope, not today." A few weeks ago, I was completely K.O., as they say in French. I could do nothing. Work felt like I was pushing a boulder up a hill. Speaking to friends felt sadly like an obligation. Even tidying my home felt like a punishment.

Instead of beating myself up, I plopped down on my couch and did nothing. After getting over the initial guilt, I started to feel refreshed, and it was wonderful! And I've been thinking about this since then.

What if you didn't have to wait until your body forced you to stop?

Continue reading here.

P.S. Feng Shui Friday is taking a summer break too! I'll be back September 25th for the New, New Year. Enjoy your summer!​
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In Gratitude,

If you're looking to create a space that nurtures you, aligns with your energy, and moves all the energy – not just furniture – head over to my YouTube channel for Feng Shui inspiration. And while you’re there, be sure to subscribe so you never miss a Feng Shui boost!

Personal note from Susan:

What I did while everyone left Paris

What does one do on sweltering August days when most Parisian residents are out of town for the summer? Eat of course! And see art!

This week was mostly unplanned, and below is how it rolled out. In bullet form because my summer brain is lazy. Love you guys but my lazy brain has taken over (refer to blog post above). And of course we start with food :)

1. Zhao's - where the tagline, "100% Chinese" was what caught my attention ;) I had the "Chinese burger," which is a kind of flaky bun burger with your choice of filling. I never tried this in NYC (does it even exist?), but it's now a staple in my monthly repertoire.
2. Chutney Bites - Fab Indian meal near Gare du Nord. I forgot to take a photo of the food, but what better proof of a good meal than the satisfied customers rubbing their bellies outside your shop? A fave dish is Pani Puri, another specialty I never had the pleasure to experience in NYC. It’s an Indian street food here is a fun video with the recipe and how to eat it!
3. Best Tofu - a scary place because locals are cutting in line and screaming left and right. But there was *finally* no line snaking out the door and dang, was the soy drink delish.
4. Calder at Louis Vuitton Foundation - I visited the Calder Circus exhibit at the Whitney when I was there last, but then the circus travelled to Paris! Wonderful to see a different representation as well as additional Calder mobiles and drawings.
5. Clair Obscur and Fujiko Nakaya- La Bourse de Commerce - Wow, just wow. The range that the exhibit Clair Obscur covered was phenomenal. Then we finished off walking in the fog of Japanese artist's installation named, Cloud #07156." We literally were walking on a cloud <3

And last but not least, my brother in law, Pierrot's visit. Always so much fun and he even braved sitting at an outdoor terrace in the middle of a Parisian heatwave. That's family!

Enjoy the rest of the summer my friends, and "see" you in the Fall!

I help you use Feng Shui as a strategy for transformation, not just design. We shift your energy, refine your environment and bring your next chapter into focus. ​ ​This isn’t Feng Shui as you know it. It’s how you create your future, on purpose. Curious? Let’s connect. CONTACT ME!

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