Welcome back to The Daily Connoisseur. I’ve always been a morning person. I like getting up in the morning. I feel optimistic when I get out of bed. I feel grateful that God’s mercies run new every day. Usually, a good night’s sleep can wash away sorrows and frustrations. 

 Shakespeare wrote: “And sleep, that sometimes shuts up sorrow’s eye, Steal me awhile from mine own company”. 

 Ah, I felt that one. But I digress. We are here to talk about a morning routine and how it should be magical. Well, after sleep has shut up sorrow’s eye, and you wake up, the magic can begin. Many people think that a routine is mundane and boring, but quite the opposite is true. 

It is in the recurring details of your everyday routine where true magic happens. You might feel like you’re going through the motions, but the momentum over time of your dedication to these small, quiet moments of the day, will reap benefits in your life that are unforeseen. 

 Aristotle said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” He was right, you know. 

 Everyone’s morning routine will look different. I can’t tell you what to do. Some of you will like to go outside and do yoga. Some of you will want to go on a quick run or go to the gym. Some of you will want to read something inspirational. Some of you will want to get some writing done. Some of you will want to walk alone in the garden, during the most renewing time of the day, when the sun is rising. Some of you will pray and meditate. Some of you will plan. Likely you will do a combination of many of these things. 

I’m about to tell you the secret key to all of this: the only thing that matters is that your morning routine is intentional. You will decide on everything you will do. You will know why you’re doing it. You will pay attention to the small whispers of life that happens to you during this time. 

 Rumi said, “The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. Don’t go back to sleep.” 

 We know our routine should be intentional but did you ever consider that it should be magical too? I mean that through the intention, a certain magic happens. Think about it. Why do we do a morning routine? What’s the point? Why don’t we wake up whenever and do whatever we feel like every day? You’re being intentional for a reason. You want to design a certain type of life. 

Robe by The Ethical Silk Company 

One of the Chic Assignments this month is to journal your gratitude. I’ve been doing that since the beginning of the year. It’s a new aspect to my morning routine. I ignored the advice on this for awhile. I thought it was enough to remain grateful in my prayers. But wow. When you write down why you’re grateful and for what, miraculous things start to happen. You start to notice the good in everything. Even bad things that happen to you… those experiences become your teacher. There’s something really powerful… dare I say, magic, about writing things down. So I’m writing down my dreams and goals this year and what I’m grateful for. It’s been powerful. 

My second book, At Home with Madame Chic, encourages the reader to be driven by the pleasures of the day. This advice remains solid in my own life. When I wake up, I am immediately excited about the pleasure I will take from my first sip of coffee. Of the feeling I will have when I step outside to check on the birds and greet the plants in the garden. I am driven by these pleasures and they feed me. Each encounter is magical and sets me up correctly for the day. So let me ask you this question: what are the magical moments of your morning routine? What do you look forward to? How can these moments drive you throughout your day? And a final word: keep your morning routine sacred. Don’t share it with too many people. These intentional magical moments are building something great in your life. They add to the je ne sais quoi that makes you so wonderful. Embrace it. Your morning routine should be magical. I hope you enjoyed today’s video and that every now and then, when you encounter a magical moment, think of me and smile. I’ll be thinking of you. Love, Jennifer

I hope you enjoy today's video. 

Looking presentable always, even at night, is a main message of my work. I believe that taking pride in your appearance opens up a whole new world of beauty for you and affects you on every level. The sleepwear I'm modeling for you today can give you ideas for the style of sleepwear you'd like to wear at home. 

Thank you to Misen for bringing us this video. I love their non-stick pan... excellent quality!