Continuing the snobbish and not at all self-ironic theme of yesterday's post, today I'll outline some strategies that I can use going forward in this mask-shedding quest.
The mask-shedding quest being the project of un-learning the false trash identity I've blindly believed all my life, and realizing and fully integrating the fact that I'm better folk - that royal, aristocratic blood runs in my veins, regardless of the blood status of my biological family.
(Yes, I still know I sound overly conceited, but perhaps, knowing my stupid habit of self-deprecation, it's not all that bad a thing.)
So I already buy clothes based on if I like them (not based on price), wear Hermès perfume (although perhaps only for the effect the brand's prestige has on my psyche), drink champagne (because it's actually tastier - my partner organized a blind tasting some time back and I could accurately tell the difference from other kinds of sparkling wine), enjoy high quality foods, and travel with grace.
("Travel with grace" means that whenever I fly economy, I can't help but think of the Duchess of Cambridge, and although she probably only flies private, I like to think she would never demand a first class seat in a commercial airplane - she would enjoy the flight in economy just as she would in any other section.)
But! Since I obviously am not yet done in this mask-shedding process, here are the strategies going forward:
- New hobbies, like horse riding, flying, archery, and sailing - perhaps even teaching our dog to become a truffle finder.
- Getting better seats at the opera. My sister and I have our regular seats, and I like to think they're brilliant - great views from higher up, but they're not exactly in the center, and having once enjoyed a show from a private box, I reckon that would be even better.
- Meditation, Joe Dispenza style. Although this is more of a brainwashing thing than an actual behavioral change, it works, and since I suppose I've hyped up the technique enough in the past, I rest my case.
- Drinking tea! Tea is excellent. There's nothing wrong with coffee, but having a cup of excellent English breakfast tea is excellent. It also feels more royal.
- Finally getting rid of stuff I've kept but haven't used in ages (mainly old, low quality clothes).
- Brushing up on my French. My strategy is to read, out loud, this one particular vocabulary book I have (it has examples in sentences, which helps hone in on grammar as well).
- Paying attention to my posture. It's fine now, but if I don't make good posture automatic now, I'll definitely end up a hunchback eventually.
- Reading more classic literature (and less anything else). Moby-Dick is a good start.
- Studying art and history. Not sure why, but those sound like general knowledge.
- Visit antique shops and auctions! I'd love to start acquiring old furniture. An old easy chair with velvet upholstery and a mahogany frame would be amazing, for example.
Now, as you can see, the list of future strategies is longer than what I've done already, which is amazing, because it means I'll have a significant project to tackle! We'll see how long it takes to make the 10 things above into everyday things.
