Hi Reader, Last week, I received many concerned messages from friends and family in the US. They saw the news headlines about the protests in the streets of France and wondered, is Susan ok? Rest assured, I am ok. There’s definitely something about living in France that keeps you on your toes! One minute you can be admiring the beautiful architecture, enjoying your café and the next minute, there’s a passionate political debate or a “manifestation,” aka protest just winding around the corner....
3 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Is it as hard for you as it is for me to take time off? I'm back from 5 weeks away from my newsletter and blog writing duties. I was travelling for work, taking personal time off to go to the US Open as well as visiting family. Even though I am surrounded daily by a slower paced Parisian rhythm, the NYC hustler in me can't stop muscling her way in. Not thinking about work and you guys was at times a struggle. As I love what I do for a living and it's woven into every fiber of my...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
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,...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Have you ever had one of those days where you know exactly what you should be doing, but you just...can't? And it's not because you don't care, but it's because you are feeling unmotivated or simply don't have it in you? If you're anything like me, the judgment probably comes pretty quickly. You tell yourself you need more discipline. You wonder if you're just lazy. Maybe you even worry that you'll never reach your goals if you keep having days like this. I know that feeling...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Today is July 31st. Yesterday, I overheard something at my doctor’s office that I don’t remember hearing when I lived in New York. “See you at the end of August.” Then another employee said it. A few minutes later, my doctor smiled and told me she was taking 4 weeks off herself. Whoa, what the heck was going on? I just came back from a short week-long vacation, and hearing that conversation made me realize something. Whether you take 4 weeks off or 4 days, chances are your life...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, This week's musing is going to be a short one since I'm currently on vacation. You know, that NY-style vacation where you are still kinda checking your emails? But I'm not. I have had a pretty intense first half of the year and needed to completely unplug to regenerate for the second half of the Fire Horse year. But before I disappear again, I want to share a Feng Shui anecdote with you Recently, I had a Feng Shui consultation with a lovely couple who were moving into a new home...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Quite recently, I discovered that I was Chinese. Well, not exactly. I've always known that I was of Chinese descent, but it wasn't always presented to me very clearly. I probably discovered this very obvious phenomenon when I entered college. Having gone to a city college, I suddenly found myself surrounded by a sea of Asian students. For the first time, I felt connected to my heritage. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this wasn't just about being Chinese. It's...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, We are in the thick of summer and although it’s hot (hella hot in some places), the general vibe is to relax and enjoy some of the summer chillness, right? But I am hearing a lot from clients and friends that although you may be on vacation and taking things a bit slower, there still seems to be an underlying feeling that something is just...off. And this can apply anytime, not just when it's summertime. Maybe it's on the weekends, or when you're supposed to be relaxing when...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, OK, let’s talk about Wimbledon. Last week was the start of Wimbledon and I have to say I’m always fascinated by this tournament.Being a defiant immigrant, daughter and New Yorker, it always astounded me that the Wimbledon people got away with demanding that players wear only white to the event. And if I’m honest, WTF was what I thought when I first discovered Wimbledon's requirement.But now, the more mature and Feng Shui me thinks about Wimbledon more in terms of environment. When...
4 months ago • 3 min read