Editor's Letter Archives - Page 2 of 4

HOW TO SHOW UP FOR TRUE AUTHENTICITY

by societytexas | May 1, 2022 | 2022 May June, Editor's Letter

Most of us can utilize the life, executive, leadership, and personal transformational coaching that our new business and life coach columnist Angie McCourt offers. Here, she shares her insight on how we can embrace our true, stylish authenticity…in the office and beyond.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION

In my book, Love Your Gifts: Permission to Revolutionize Authenticity in the Workplace, I target the many limitations that can impact how we show up in the workplace as our authentic selves. These constraints can impact our elevated gifts and deter us from reaching our full potential. So, let’s see how to clear out what isn’t working, so we can activate these innate gifts.

The clearing out involves reducing and eventually eliminating judgments, comparisons, competing in unhealthy ways, limiting beliefs, overcompensating, and our inner critic. This also applies to our authenticity in personal relationships, with friends, the community, on social media, our spirituality, and within our families. In fact, if we are not feeling connected to our authentic selves, it may be causing a disconnect from our joy, which can affect our interactions with others or in a desire to be fully ourselves, speak our truth, show up in our authentic skin, and showcase our gifts and talents. It can also affect our style, taste in food, art, and décor in this drive to be our authentic selves.

We are often influenced by others, including friends, colleagues, and current trends, regarding what we should wear, eat, support, and appreciate. However, these areas are a great place to be your authentic self. Today many people wear clothes based on their mood, type of activity, or how they want to show up versus being influenced by others. We see fashion trends shifting everywhere compared to 10 to 20 years ago when they were very predictable.

Instead, many people today wear clothes based on their mood, type of activity, or how they want to show up versus being influenced by others. We listen to different types of music based on how we feel or want to feel. We view jewelry as symbolic and even as wearable art showcasing it according to how we wish to present ourselves. The style each of us has is becoming more about our individuality than how others expect us to be or how others are showing up. To be authentic is not to try to be different but to be in the truth of what you enjoy, doing what best represents who you are, your values, beliefs, and desires.

There is often a fear of judgment, rejection, or disapproval based on our status, job, title, or responsibilities that hold us back from being our authentic selves. Take a moment to think about the unique qualities you have and don’t share with others and ask yourself why not? This specialness might be a talent, interest, gift, or even a parenting role.

We struggle between sharing too much about ourselves out of fear this knowledge will be held against us somehow, which leads to unhappiness and disconnection. So, do what feels comfortable by allowing your authenticity to shine when you show up.

THE MAGIC OF THREES

Try these three exercises to allow yourself to break through the blocks that may be holding you back from bringing your authentic self into your everyday life.

Assess your values (what are the top five values you live by today?) and fully align to them throughout all areas of your life.
Discover two limiting beliefs restricting your authenticity (Example: You are expected to show up in a certain way, or others won’t respect you.) Challenge the truth of those beliefs. When has this happened in the past? What happens if the limiting beliefs are not accurate? Then, write your new truth statement.
Stop comparing yourself to others. This can be easier said than done, and it takes self-awareness to catch when this is happening. Reducing time on social media can help. Be grateful for what you have, who you are, and who is in your life currently. Support others in their success, too.

Then, check in with yourself regularly to see how you connect with your authentic self and what that looks and feels like. Finally, acknowledge how your authenticity influences the impact you can make at home, work, in the community, and the world.

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SPRING FEVER

by societytexas | Feb 28, 2022 | 2022 March April, Editor's Letter

As winter thaws and the possibilities of spring beckons, we are beyond excited about the warmer weather season and what it has in store for all of us. From our vantage point, we have an outlook that reads sunny skies and even sunnier times ahead.

With this new spring issue, always one of my very favorites, we continue to embrace a wildly optimistic viewpoint for the future that we, in turn, share with you. From sharing the galas you love to support, to covering the topics that matter to you, to the fashion that inspires to the styles that motivate your own, we are here for you. We know how busy times are as the world bounces back in a post-pandemic state of mind, and we treasure that you choose us to have along on your journey.

Lady Bird Johnson so famously said where flowers bloom, so does hope. Thanks to her and LBJ, the Highway Beautification Act was signed into law in 1965, and it was a feat that literally changed our landscape for the better. To plant is to believe in the future, don’t you think? Even the rugged and roughhewn beauty of Texas became more visually fluent and dexterous. That transformational bill and the era’s Don’t Be a Litterbug campaign continue to make a dramatic difference in the horizons we choose to see. We’ve all learned many things in our journeys in life…in Texas and beyond. That’s why we’re here to present the very best of it as stylishly as we can.

Our cover fashion feature takes us to a mythical villa in the South of France, where joie de vivre is like no other, especially with a Texan spin on it. Fresh, hopeful, and always inspiringly glamorous, we encourage you to try new fashion avenues this season. One distinct fashion avenue well-traveled was internationally known and respected retailer Grace Jones, founder of her eponymous salon in Salado, located between Austin and Dallas. The small spot on the map gave way to Jones’ grand vision for how women, especially the Texas women who arrived in limousines and by jets at the nearby landing strip could be more beautifully dressed, as chronicled in the breezy book about her by her longtime friend, fifth-generation Texan and fashion expert Mary-Margaret Quadlander. We’re delighted to present this look back that encourages a look forward in your own style and life’s ambitions. In the style world, knowing how a shoe can change not only an outfit but also the world of the wearer, we’re sharing our season’s favorite finds to keep you on your own path with a spring in your step, too.

Along with our wildly talented editorial, design, and publishing teams doing what they do best here, we’ll keep bringing you some of the most innovative, insightful journalism and photography on the planet. Because we get it. We really get you. So, as your spring unfolds to the bright and buoyant days ahead, we’ll see you in a place in the sun.

Lance Avery Morgan

Editor-In-Chief &

Creative Director

Lance@SocietyTexas.com

Facebook, Instagram

Portrait photography by Romy Suskin

NEW, NOW & NEXT

by societytexas | Dec 30, 2021 | 2022 January February, Editor's Letter

Onward and upward. From this moment on. Starting here, starting now. Moving on up. The myriad of euphemisms we consistently use to help propel us forward is legion. Because, really, the past is like a foreign country: they do things differently there, and those customs should be acknowledged, but you don’t have to make it your own. That means, really, let’s not be absorbed in the past, shall we, but make way to embrace the new, the bold, the brilliant things that we can all create with the talents we have…and can form.

And oh, how we love talent. With the New Year, New You sensibility on our minds around here, we well know how talent works. It’s either inherent (too rare) or acquired (talent and luck happens when preparation meets opportunity, to paraphrase the Roman philosopher, Seneca). Both ways, we embrace how talent can positively affect so many, especially as our world has both contracted and expanded over the last couple of years with the pandemic. So, I think we can all agree that turning the calendar page from 2021 to 2022 felt like a breath of fresh, optimistic air. Out with the old, in with the new.

Something that we always love are weddings and new marriages that represent new life journeys, as you’ll see throughout this special issue devoted to them. From around the state, we have corralled so many fine examples of how the big day was achieved flawlessly…and yes, with plenty of talent to make it happen behind the scenes. What is a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for most is memorialized within these pages. I know that I love to look back on family photos of marriages to see how they have progressed from comparatively simple affairs to exuberant expressions of love with many family and friends in attendance as well-wishers. Plus, as we can all attest, the reception is usually the best party in town that weekend.

So, enjoy these spectacular weddings as we kick the New Year into high gear. We’re excited to take another trip around the sun with you in 2022, and we love being a part of your lives. So, cheers, Skol, down that hatch, and here’s to mud in your eye…as we toast the future with open arms. See you in the ballroom.

Lance Avery Morgan

Editor-In-Chief &

Creative Director

Lance@SocietyTexas.com

Facebook, Instagram

Portrait photography by Romy Suskin

ONWARD EVER, BACKWARD NEVER

by societytexas | Oct 31, 2021 | 2021 November December, Editor's Letter

Going Up! Entering the holiday season, our favorite around here, the excitement mounts. As we have all navigated the pandemic as well as we can, it has offered so many teachable moments of how we individually maneuver through the world, and how the world, well, navigates us. With the tree going up and the festive holiday décor donning just about everywhere we turn, our thoughts take a sentimental turn during these months. Sentiment, a favorite tendency, literally, means many things to many people. For me, it’s enjoying the warmth of the season and reflecting, while also looking forward and projecting ahead. That means thoughts of a long-ago aluminum Christmas tree and favorite toys received, to now, enjoying the younger family folk enjoying their new-found holiday traditions.

We are all swirling back into the ballroom now to support our favorite causes and to make up for lost time. Even though the show did indeed go on during the COVID-19 period, there is currently a renewed robustness and spirit in play. Things have picked up more momentum than in recent memory, so it begs the question, what will the future of philanthropy look like? It’s an important question for all of us. Our theory, and based on many conversations with experts, is that it will grow and evolve like we each individually have. There are still plenty of ways to give back either through volunteerism and public service with a favorite cause or a dozen, sponsoring facets of an organization’s needs, or donating much-needed funds as non-profits get fully back on track again to be a beacon of hope in all our communities.

Knowing that giving is essential, we also know that receiving is worthy, too. Beyond holiday donations that you might consider, we’ve amped up the giving and receiving process like never before with a year’s worth of seeking out the perfect gifts, culminating in our The Riches Of The Season annual holiday gift feature. There’s something for everyone and every budget.

As we enter the chilly months of the year, our fashion cover feature, Mysterious & Majestic, shot by Mark Oberlin and styled by Dion “Bleu” Drake, chronicles a woman’s journey to find her fashionable self in pristine, rarely seen natural surroundings. With new departments like The Edit Advisory, where we forecast the best trends to adapt to your own wardrobe, to our many returning favorite sections that you’ve all come to love, our talented team has you covered as your returning active lifestyle makes up for lost time this past year and a half.

We’re on board to share and show all that we are seeing about the state, thanks to our intrepid contributors who share their tales of adventure and finds they recommend. We are always thankful and ever grateful to you, our wonderful reader and follower. So, as we all enjoy the season, we are excited to journey forward with you as the holidays unfold…and beyond. From our homes to yours, have a joyous season and enjoy as much mistletoe shenanigans as possible. See you ‘round the tree and always know we are rooting for you.

Lance Avery Morgan

lance@societytexas.com

Facebook, Instagram

Portrait photography by Romy Suskin

FORTUITOUS AND FLOURISHING FALL

by societytexas | Aug 31, 2021 | 2021 September October, Editor's Letter

SHARING THE EXPERIENCE

With the pandemic happening over the last year and a half now and continuing, we’ve all learned something that many of us may not be experts at…flexibility. It’s been a tangible lesson, and it likely remains a teachable moment for all of us as we enter fall. Plus, things that represented fall have evolved, too. New cars would be introduced, TV shows would premiere, sporting seasons began anew, and the weather changed to a cooler, crisper variety than what we know a typical Texas summer to be. While only the Texas weather can be counted on to change, now we all get to be flexible with the other changes due to the timing of world events and those we create ourselves. However, there are still so many bright spots of where we have been…and where we are going. It’s all about the energy of the people with whom we share our time and space.

One thing I recall learning along the way is that people are more apt to laugh when they are with others. Five times. Five times the fun. Five times the connection. Even the random occurrence of connecting with someone who works behind the counter or a passerby on the sidewalk is a golden opportunity. When the good old neighborhood walk became ubiquitous during the pandemic, I always smiled and said or waved hello to anyone who passed by. So many times, I thought, I might be the one and only person they connect with all day, especially my elderly neighbors. That, and tossing up newspapers that hovered the curb onto the front stoops, brought simple joy to me in those limited connectivity days that now seem long ago but wil be in our future once again with family, friends, and colleagues.

HERE WE GO

Onward and upward, this fall, we’re all rarin’ to go again. Fully charged and full steam ahead, I’d say…just add a bit of flexibility. Although we have loved the ongoing optimism Society Texas offered before, during, and now, we kick into an even higher gear, as you’ll see on these pages with its powerful imagery. Our fashion cover feature, shot in the great outdoors by Mark Oberlin and styled by Dion “Bleu” Drake, reflects the sunny confidence of this season’s best style for you, our coveted reader. Always admiring our native-Texans-done-good, we share the story of Waco-born Travis Banton, whose seminal talents during the Golden Age of Hollywood are still reflected on today’s catwalks. Finally, with social obligations always top of mind, Austin-bred Gordon Kendall looks back fondly and humorously at his days of escorting debutantes.

These features, along with our plethora of stories that our engaging writers and editors bring you and our many social stories that support so many philanthropies that remain fan favorites, have us swingin’ for the fences to bring you more and unique editorial that you’ve come to know and love. So, for everything from lifestyle, insight into new books to read, beauty products to try, cars to drive, and so many other ways to enjoy life more, count on Society Texas to be by your side from the ballroom and beyond. Cheers to a happy fall ahead, and we look forward to learning how your life has created more momentum as we all progress forward.

Lance Avery Morgan

lance@societytexas.com

Facebook, Instagram

By LAM photo: Portrait photography by Romy Suskin

IT’S TODAY

by societytexas | Jun 30, 2021 | 2021 July August, Editor's Letter

When I was a child actor in community theatre plays and often around mostly adult actors, I looked so forward to being a grown-up. True, I was in a fictionalized cast with fellow actors who were already grown-up, yet I waited in anticipation of being an adult as well. From the hit play near to my heart, Auntie Mame, a breathless expectation of the future, was the cornerstone of the rapid-fire grown-up dialogue. One line still resonates: Light the candles, Get the ice out, Roll the rug up, It’s today!

I have a feeling the rest of the world, like we at Society Texas, is lighting candles, getting the ice out, and rolling up the rug as today–and the tomorrows–all bring a breath of welcome fresh air as we move beyond COVID. With the losses and sacrifices from the pandemic still fresh on our minds, as with any problem-solving technique, we’re looking toward the ripe potential that many tomorrows hold. Because, even though there is so much to accomplish, the Universe is more expansive than our view of it.

Each and every one of us gets the opportunity to have a new lease on life with this broader view. As Abraham Lincoln once famously said, “I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” So, my question for many at the again now-often dinner parties and social events is: how will you enhance who you are and what you do for the future? What will you do differently, do better, make right, and how will you view the world in perhaps a different light moving forward?

With this in mind, as we are all adults and usually love being one, it’s an exciting time to take steps to reignite and reengage for what’s up ahead in mature ways. Our team is mighty eager to resume what we know and create a bright tomorrow, so what you see in these pages is an unabashedly optimistic look at how much the world and global travel means to all of us. We want it to serve as an inspiration to set sail on new voyages, both literally and metaphorically. Along with our other great stories, profiles, interviews, and insight, we want this summer to be infinitely better than the one before it.

So, suit up and dive into life like never before and we look forward to seeing you all across the state…and the globe, because, as we well know, where there is a Texan, there is fun.

Lance Avery Morgan

lance@societytexas.com

Facebook, Instagram

Photo credit by portrait: Photography by Romy Suskin