Let’s begin with a beach throwback, shall we? Here I am on the island of Santorini…. swoon.
A thing we all generally understand in this particular world (and many of our differing and overlapping worlds) … is that time is money. “Thanks for taking the time to read my wishes,” an emailing suitor recently l found me. “I realize that time is money". Is this true? Absolutely, he isn’t wrong. Can two things be true at once? YES, and often. To share the following:
“Time isn’t precious at all, because it is an illusion. What you perceive as precious is not time but the *one point that is out* of time: the Now. That is precious indeed. The more you are focused on time — past and future — the more you miss right Now, the most precious thing there is.”
I ecstatically look forward to the future. I love to write down my goals. I write them out where I can see them, think long and hard about them. I occasionally draw doodles to match. I underline goals I feel exceptionally passionate around. I dream about them as they will be. I consider the ways to encourage a goal to come to fruition —which often aids in deciding where to put my energy that day or month. My goals are financial and physical, professional and relational, progress and outcome-based. Both short and long term goals. Goals of traveling to, eventually living in places I’ve dreamed of. A goal of finally staining the gorgeous dresser I picked up at a vintage sale a few months back. You name it, I have it. I share this to circle back to the idea of time and what it means to decide how we spend it. IS time money? Sure. Is time also something else we can learn from? Is this already-happening-moment in time something we can experience joy from, and in?
I’ve been back in Chicago for a little over a year. Have I created my ultimate ideal situation, met and completed my goals as of today? I have not. There’s something centrally human about the hardwired desire to have, experience, become more. I can’t imagine there has ever been a peak where someone wakes up and says, great, I’ve achieved and seen everything I wished for in this life. Game over! (Plus, there’s something beautiful about continuing to seek forever- be it a thrilling new experience, your dream job, collecting more stamps in your passport, hot dates with your favorite women, or perhaps full enlightenment? Trust, these examples all work fine here. Seeking is sexy, and expansion is a basic expression of life we all share.)
But… am I well on the path to watching the goals I deeply seek come to fruition at this very moment? Am I working toward them day by day? It’s a hard yes. It blows me away to settle in this truth— that so many things that are true right now are things I wished and wanted for. There’s magic in the only time that is actually promised to us— here and now, right in front of us. Humans are funny— I can’t help laugh at (and adore) us in all our impossible imperfection. Life is constantly changing. We become bored with what we think we wanted and crave newer, bigger, and better versions. I believe this is where self-control and self-contentment comes into play, but that’s a ramble for another post. So this brings us back to time… and introduces the idea of presence. Time is money, yes. But time is also now, and being fully here now is the opposite of rumination: it’s presence. I’m choosing to slow down and savor each moment of my life. The jumping glow and spark of a flame. The exciting part when two strangers become something deeper (this CAN happen on a date, but can also be found in so many connections as we go about our days- you just have to look for them). The last delicious bite of chocolate at the bottom of the Pots de Crème. Each whisper and sigh of my lover’s voice during pillow talk. The tantalizing and safe feeling of being tangled up in someone’s arms you just. can’t. get. enough. of. The realization that so many of the things that exist right now are things we deeply once wanted for ourselves. (Time certainly keeps it real. If we’re acquainted in person, you’ll notice I’m sometimes reaching for an ten extra minutes, lol)— it’s the present moment that allows me to enjoy everything, now, as it comes. This is me encouraging you to do, and find, the same.
…and I certainly have been enjoying. It’s been a super sweet first half of the month and I want to say thank you! Caught up with a couple favorite (most loved?) lovers and somehow booked both my first and second concert/show dates both in the same month (what!?) What a dream to do this alongside you. A venue of big funk/jazz/bossanova fans, a dry martini with an extra olive, and a hot pair of hands on my hips? Count me in.
This was the incredibly groovy French band Cortex at Thalia Hall.
My present moment is feeling good.
I mentioned some announcements in my last newsletter. A new website will be built before the end of the summer, stay tuned. She’s gonna be a banger. :)
I shared that my rates would be changing August 1st. They’re not terribly different- my hour and 90 min rates are increasing slightly.
What I am most thrilled about sharing is the addition of a 24 hour-date for the same rate as my overnight. On either date I will require 7+ hours of full rest. This offering excites me! I would love the chance to plan (or just show up if you prefer to host me…) more time together, to savor each hour and sip…
Rates as of August 1, 2024
extended dates
4 hour dinner-date 1600
6 hour dinner (& a nightcap) date 2400
clock-free overnight 4000
24 hour date 4000
short and sweet dates
50 min fbsm 350 (Chicago only)
1 hour 500
90 min 700
2 hours 900
3 hours 1300
Please note:
For couples add 25%, 2-hour minimum. Yes, I possibly want to meet both you and your wife. :)
I accept your deposit digitally. The remainder is cash only. We will add $150 if you absolutely need to pay digitally.
Clock-free overnight may begin as early as 6 pm and end as late as 10 am.
FMTY is reserved for 3+ hour dates. FMTY is a bit different; I require 50% up front in the deposit as well as hotel and airfare.
Come fully prepared to book when you are ready to set a date. My favorite meetings are set up in 2-4 emails or texts. I’ve seen a few people manage to do it in 1-2. So, beat that. (Please beat that!)
I love dropping into your inbox this way, and enjoy how we are able to grow together on this platform. I’m happy you’re here.
All warmth, and see you soon. Enjoy a little more of your today, right here, right now.
Sophia