Inspired By: A Well-Lived Life

There's something about sitting indoors in snow storm, watching the flakes drift, that sets the mind to wandering -- my thoughts as I spent most of yesterday cozied up in my PJs? Who do I want to be when I'm in my 90s?

 Rosamond Bernier with husband John Russell at the Tate in 2007

Last Monday morning, I caught just the end of a NPR interview with Rosamond Bernier, adventurer, Vogue editor, Metropolitan Museum of Art lecturer, who at 95 wrote her memoirs Some of My Lives. It's been on my list since it was published last fall, just before we took off for Spain. Hearing this charming woman speak about her years in Paris, I couldn't wait another moment to start reading about the life she's lived so far.

 Photographed by Horst in 1968 in her Paris Apartment, wearing Madame Gres

After just a short aquiantence through the pages of her book, interviews she's given and videos of her Met lectures, it's impossible not to be dazzled by her life. 

 With Matisse 

 With Max Ernst 

 With Joan Miro 

The artists she met and befriended -- Matisse, Picasso, Miro, Aaron Copeland, Leonard Bernstein.

 In Chanel

 Rosamond looks on as Gertrude Stein is photographed for Vogue in Pierre Balmain's Paris studio

 A green Balenciaga gown she wore throughout her life, a gift to the Met Costume Institute

 Lecturing in Zandra Rhodes

The Couture she wrote about and wore equally well.

 In Barcelona at Guadi's Park Guell with Miro

 In Acapulco 

With her menagerie in Mexico

The places she traveled. The ocelot she smuggled onto a flight to Mexico!

Interviewing Henry Moore about Rodin

It's an amazing life she's living. One that doesn't seem possible to be emulated by mere mortals.  But, when you think about it, she worked hard, brought art into her life, looked at the world optimistically, practiced kindness, pursued places, topics and people that fascinated her and who she loved... Things that any of us can do.

"I don't consider myself exceptional in any way. I think I've had exceptional good luck," she told Vogue's Leslie Camhi.

In her New York Apartment - Photos from Rosamond Bernier, Vogue, and Elle Decor 

I hope that when I turn 95, I can look at my life, think about the places I've been, the things I've seen and the people I've loved and believe I've been exceptionally lucky. I'd like to think I'm off to a very good start.

Looking for a little inspiration for a well lived- life? Her book is lovely and fascinating, you can find an excerpt here. And her last lecture for The Met. Wow.

What's your definition of a well-lived life?