Dear Rose # 72 - Whimsy and Grim: Why Radical Joy Needs Darkness to Shine

Rose is an amalgam of us - women in their 40s, 50s, 60s and beyond who are looking for somewhere they are seen, heard and listened to.

Dear Rose,

I saw this quote on Instagram the other day and read it out loud to my retreat guests: “Whimsy is a form of resistance in a world that wants us to be miserable.”

It made me feel even more dedicated to living a whimsical life—one full of sparkles and pink and joy.

Later, as we walked down the beautiful laneway to our Bali villa, I commented to a friend that the ones near my earlier accommodation were so grim. She exclaimed, “Whimsy and Grim! I love it. What a great name for a café, workshop, or store!”

I wondered out loud if anyone would pay for something with the word grim in the title. She said, “That’s just it—you wouldn’t notice the whimsy without the grim.”

And you know what? She’s right.

Love, Em xx