Style Maven: Audrey Hepburn (Part 10 - On Humanity...)

As I said in my Editor’s Letter this month, if anyone wants to understand how to be truly happy in life, one should study the life and values of Ms. Audrey Hepburn—so I will make it easy for you to do so with my 10 part Style Maven series this month. In my fashion, after reading Melissa Hellstern’s book, 'How to be Lovely: The Audrey Hepburn Way of Life', one sees Audrey Hepburn as a prime example of how to overcome the self-defeating attitudes we have of ourselves, and rise to the occasion where ever you are needed. For me personally, considering Hepburn was an introverted soul, she reminds me that being an introvert, it is possible to step out of one’s comfort zone to achieve the success we desire. "We may be introverts, but that is not all that we are," I tell myself! I think she shows that there is strength in all of us (introverted or extroverted) to accomplish great successes and create a happy life, which is exactly why I preach of understanding what our unique strengths are so we can be as useful in this life as possible. She shows no matter how delicate, beautiful, or kind you are, we all have our tribulations in life, no matter how glorious we appear in the public eye. She reminds us that at the end of the day we all have to work for the satisfaction we want in life, and one cannot fret over what one cannot control. Life gets on when you do, so make it happen! I would only hope that the following posts help you to figure out how to emulate some of that effervescence Audrey possessed by adjusting how you see life through her eyes.

On Humanity: How to change the world...

Think Deeply “Somebody said to me the other day, ‘You know, it’s really senseless, what you’re doing. There’s always been suffering, there will always be suffering, and you’re just prolonging the suffering of these children [by rescuing them].’ My answer is, ‘Okay, then, let’s start with your grandchild. Don’t buy antibiotics if it gets pneumonia. Don’t take it to the hospital if it has an accident,’ It’s against life—against humanity—to think that way.”

Don’t Get Political “UNICEF’s mandate is to protect every child against famine, thirst, sickness, abuse, and death, but today we are dealing with a far more ominous threat—the dark side of humanity: the selfishness, avarice, aggression which have already polluted our skies, emptied our oceans, destroyed our forests and extinguished thousands of beautiful animals. Are our children next?”

Be Hands-On “I went with so many people telling me how harrowing and dreadful it would be to see the extent of the suffering, the death, and the despair. But I also witnessed how much is being done to help and how just a small amount of aid can assist in treating the sick, irrigating the land, and planting new crops. I came to realize that Ethiopia’s problems are not unsolvable if only the world would give a little more.”

Nothing Will Prepare You “I went through a war. Surely that made me a little more aware that some people might not know what it means to be hungry, deprivation and so forth. Never do I think of that when I see a child in Africa who is at death’s door.”

Inspire “Since the world had existed, there has been injustice. But it is one world, the more so as it becomes smaller, more accessible. There is just no question that there is a moral obligation that those who have should give to those who have nothing.”