Helping people get the most out of Life
Who is this site for?
This destination was designed for anyone looking to make the most out of life. You are someone who enjoys living life to the fullest and creating your own lifestyle. You put quality of life and being able to afford it above going into debt to prove you are "status worthy". Truly wealthy-minded people are confident in themselves and don't need to prove their value. You...chase excellence. Let this give you ideas on how to shape your life. What kind of life do you want to live? If you've never thought about it, this would be a good time to evaluate where you are in life and decide what lifestyle YOU want to live. As the great Frank Sinatra said " You only go around once, but if you play your cards right, once is enough"
Enjoy!
P.S. This site was created by a human for humans . No AI was used!
ABOUT ME
So here's my story, the short version. The long version requires a bottle of Macallan 12 and a medium rare ribeye with baked potato and asparagus. I was like most people, beer on the weekends watching football or tubing down the Delaware. Pretty low key. One day I had an epiphany while watching yet another Phila team let me down. There has to be more to life than this. That's when I began my quest...
ART/ARCHITECTURE
This topic can be overwhelming. There are so many different types of art in the world. The best way to approach this is to visit your local museum. There are a few in Philadelphia but there should be a few options near you. I myself have several memberships to New York museums because of its close proximity plus I travel to New York many times during the year. It's one of my favorite destinations. At the PMoA, fridays are great because you can pay what you wish. It's a great way to explore and support the arts along the way. Give yourself an hour or two and just go with an open mind. Something will stir your soul. Some of my favorite artists are Van Gogh, Edward Hopper and Renoir and a good place to start is to check out the Masters. They are called the Masters for a reason.
As far as sculptures go, in my opinion, the Italian Lorenzo Bernini created some of the finest works ever done in marble. Apollo and Daphne is a myth brought to life. Or Rodin's The Kiss. It's not what you think it is. The list is endless as there are so many incredible works of art. If you can't get to a museum, check out a book from your local library or visit your local bookstore.
Outside The Guggenheim Museum
They make great coffee table books and they make you look smart too. Remember, find what you like, what captures your attention and moves you and before you know it you'll be saying things like " Raphael was a master of balance. Thick brush strokes for the landscape, but the skin tones are almost...translucent" Say that to someone and watch their heads spin :) Thanks to Neal Caffrey for that! If you don't know who that is check out the Influences section for more info.
To explore architecture, I found a walking tour in Phila that was excellent. You get to walk around the city and have a guide explain in detail the various styles that were used to create these amazing buildings. If you are in a major city, take the time to look up instead of at your phone and really check out the detail that went into what I believe are masterpieces. Some examples are The Chrysler Building in New York for its Art Deco design, the various sights around our nations capital, the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina, multiple Hotels and my favorite, The Brooklyn Bridge. Well, one of my favorites. Sorry Flat Iron Building. There are libraries, train stations and even sporting arenas such as Wrigley Field in Chicago and Fenway Park in Boston. Really everywhere you look you can find these hidden gems right around you. Check them out before they get knocked down for yet another failed shopping centre.
New York museums - The Met, The Guggenheim, The Whitney Museum, and the MoMA
Phila museums - Phila Museum of Art, The Academy of Natural Sciences, The Franklin Institute
Walking tours thru Preservationalliance.com
Others - The Louvre in Paris, The British Museum in London, Smithsonian in D.C., The Egyptian Museum in Cairo, The Van Gogh in Amsterdam and The Art Institute of Chicago.
MUSIC
When it comes to music, beauty ( or in this case, auditory emotions ) are in the ear of the beholder. Everyone has their favorites. The songs that get you amped for the gym, the ones you listen to when working, the ones that just make you smile. Music can take us places. Sometimes it takes us to the past. It reminds us of better times. Music truly is transformative. In this section I want to share with you some of my favorites. The ones that have changed my musical palette. Besides the usual artists we all know and love here are some others to get you started. Keep in mind, I was "Led Zeppelin and Rush rule!" Which is true. But here you go...
Let's start with one song that blew my mind. The Phantom of the Opera theme. My first experience outside of my normal world. Friends took us to NY and I went begrudgingly. See above comment :) Something about a deformed man and a beautiful woman who can sing that strikes a chord. No pun intended.
I won't comment on all of them so I've created this list...
BARS/RESTAURANTS
Food. Everyone loves to eat and everyone has their favorites. But I would encourage you to find places you've never been to. In the Phila area, as in most metropolitan areas, you can find just about anything. And I mean anything. You can go top shelf or go for some other less expensive options...
CLOTHING
When it comes to clothing, there are two basic parts. Sharp, casual and more formal. I don't claim to be a sartorialist on every occasion but I have enough experience and knowledge to know that the basics always work. Keep it simple. So, here's my take. When dressing for any occasion always remember you can always dress down, but not always up. What does this mean? Say you're going to a nice bar to have drinks with a client. If you go in a suit and tie and discover that your client is in a polo shirt and nice jeans or wearing a blazer and khakis, you can always undo your tie or if it will make your client feel more relaxed, take the tie off completely. But if you go in a blazer and khakis and they're dressed in the suit, well then you look like you're unprofessional and that you don't take things seriously especially their business. Always put your best foot forward. It's the same everywhere when being Top Shelf. Something about dressing up, even if it's just a nicer shirt and dress pants that makes you feel special. For a woman, the same philosophy applies. A nice dress with heels and a bit of jewelry will always look beautiful. Plus, you know you look good so own it. Don't forget the one thing that can really separate you from everyone else...
SPORTS
For this category I want to cover Top Shelf sports, not the usual pedestrian sports. The ones that are classy and rooted in old school money mentality. When I began my journey, I looked at looked at a number of resources and found there were a few that always came up. These are by no means the only ones but they are in my opinion the best...
TRAVEL
Creating a section on traveling is one of the most difficult subjects to cover. Some people are beach goers, others would rather climb a mountain. Some like both. It doesn't really matter which type you are. The point is exploration of the planet. Finding out which part of the world you would like to start with is as simple as opening up a book, searching online or asking others where they have traveled. Some of our preferences come from childhood. Did you like the beach with your family or were you thinking about snow? There is no wrong answer here. The best way to organize your list is simply by writing down all of the places you'd like to travel to. Then prioritize them into your top destinations. Traveling doesn't have to mean a 14 day trip to Bali either. There are many places near you that would be a great place to start. Living in close proximity to New York/Manhattan, I travel there a lot. There's so much to explore that I really feel like I'll never see it all anytime soon. When compiling your list think global and local. Often times you can find some really cool places within an hour or two from where you are. Also, keep in mind, you don't need to stay in the top hotels everywhere you go. Just simply being there is the goal. You'll probably, or should be, out enjoying the sights. Remember, if you say to someone " Hey, I'm going to Monaco this summer" no one should say " Where are you staying?" They'll be excited for you. And if they do ask, just say " I'm not sure.
But I AM going to Monaco!". They don't have to know you are staying a mile outside of the town itself. Many times you can stay just outside of a city or town and pay a little bit less for accommodations, freeing up your money for other things. Again, the point is just being there.
Start with : London, Paris, Venice and Rome and move onto Ireland, Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Greece. Of course this is just a starting point. Everyone has their list. But find what intrigues you, excites you and follow that passion. After that, there's all of Asia to explore along with the Islands all over the globe. Hawaii, Bali, the Caribbean and Thailand. There are hundreds of places to chose from. Do it now before you say " I'll put it on my bucket list". I've never liked that term because to me it implies...well, you're dying soon so I better get going. By that age, you might want to go to places you've always wanted to see but can't because you can't walk, or get a wheelchair there or anything else that would be limiting. It's not a happy picture but you understand what I'm saying, right? I'm also not saying to go into debt just to go. You can find ways to make it happen. As I've said before, you'll find the time and money to do what's important in your life. Just don't wait too long. My background in the medical field taught me that life is shorter than you think. Many times I find out that a patient works their whole life, never going on vacation or doing something they really wanted to do only to be diagnosed with a disease. Sorry to spoil the mood but I think it needs to be said.
I'll leave you with this story. James Bond is driving with his new wife, Tracy. He's never been happier. After stopping by the side of the road, she is shot in an assassination attempt and dies. Bond is left holding her and says to the police officer who stops " No need to rush. We have all the time in the world"...
And I think to myself...What a wonderful world
LITERATURE
Before we get started, let's ask the question...why? Why read? Reading adds so much to your life. It increases your knowledge, you communicate better, it increases your empathy and you gain inspiration from others. Reading just opens the world to you. There are numerous studies that magnify the effect that reading has on your brain...