The Pursuit of Refinement

People used to think I was a girly-girl. Goodness. I thought I was a girly-girl. But I wasn't. (And I'm not.) We labored under the delusion that because I wasn't a tom-boy, I must be a girly-girl. But "everything pink" was not me and is not me. Sure, I like pink things and I like to look pretty and I love things that sparkle and glitter, but I'm not the typical girly-girl.

I don't like zebra stripes or tu-tus.

I don't wear high-heels when it's ridiculous to wear high-heels.

I don't get manicures and pedicures every weekend.

I didn't ever want a room that was entirely pink and frilly. (or at least, not in my memory)

There's nothing wrong with any of those things, but I'm just proving a point. I'm not a girly-girl. Got it? So what am I? Dear, dear. We've got a rather narrow mind, haven't we? Thinking girls can only be sloshed into one of two categories. I've discovered what to call the sophisticated, feminine strain in my personality. I call it:

The Pursuit of Refinement. 

"The Pursuit of Refinement" isn't prudish or wax-dollian or boring when exercised in its proper capacity. It simply means that my tastes are more refined, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan than they are flirty, giddy, and fluffy.

I admire multi-lingual people, and wish I knew French, German, or Italian.

I love polished wood and coffee shops.

I love travel, and talking about travel, and old suitcases.

I love big hats and tiny waists. (And I have neither. :P)

The idea of going to the theatre or an opera or a concert thrills me.

Red lipstick ought to come back into style.

Nights on the town (in the most innocent sense of that term) are my cup of tea.

I'd love to go to a horse-race someday.

I take fashion-inspiration from old actresses.

Bookstores hold my literary-heart in captivity.

"Effervescent" describes me to a "t": "vivacious, lively, sparkling"

City-life fascinates me.

Rich people fascinate me.

I read classics because I truly love them--not because I've been assigned a reading project.

I have a deep-seated desire to be "accomplished" in the manner of those good-old-days.

I love dressing up.

I prize cleverness and wit.

So I quote clever and witty people. ;)

Anyone who can play well on any instrument has my deep regard.

Intelligent conversation is a must.

I work at becoming a well-read person.

The Pursuit of Refinement inspires me to write, to draw, to sing, to dance, to visit historical houses and to be mindful of my posture. It lends magic to words like "masquerade," "ball," "tea," and "aristocrat." It gives me bourgeoisie satisfaction in truly clever things, and teaches me the difference between wit and wise-cracking. Of course my entire life is not about pursuing refinement, just as the girly-girl's life isn't all about painting her nails and the tomboy's life isn't all about paintball-ing. But it does lend a certain atmosphere to the ways I choose to cultivate my tastes, pleasures, and talents. :) So what sort of a girl are you? If you'd like, write your own blog post about it and leave a link in a comment. I'd love to read about your personality in this respect. <3