Celebrating new life with MeiLi

This fall brings more than leaves of change. I don’t know how many people are feeling that 2012 was a huge year of change, but I have a hunch there are many who share this sentiment. So many of my loved ones are shifting in great ways. My brother, for one, had a baby in April… in Helsinki, Finland! Baby Olivia is a most beautiful child and I would be so lucky to have a child like her. Someday.

My beautiful niece, Olivia (photo courtesy of Anni Tamminen)

It seems new life is springing up everywhere in the lives of my friends near and far. Something must be in the water and I must be drinking more wine than water. Yes, by ‘new life’, I meant babies. My dear friend, soul sister, accomplice, and every space I can spare in my heart has just left Beijing. About to give life to her very own baby in six months, she just packed up her life of over four years in Beijing. My heart breaks and is broken in many ways, but I wish her well. She is such a beautiful soul, a well of spiritual strength, glittering sunshine, and a goofball just like me.

Fascinators, memories, and tea. (photo courtesy of Alex Wang)

Where else does a fancy lady who splashed the capital with colourful flair celebrate the coming of a new child and her next chapter in Hawaii? Why, at Capital M, of course!!! I organized a celebration of new life in the Silver Room at Capital M. An afternoon tea of scones, cucumber sandwiches, meringues, brownies, tea, coffee, and ladies adorned with MeiLi’s fascinators. We were a colorful spectacle to be remembered. MeiLi has an amazing life in Beijing which she is taking pause to experience a new chapter. For over four years, MeiLi wrote, styled, and directed the Fashionista centerfold for Beijing’s City Weekend and founded MeiLi Style, a dynamic team of stylists and makeup artists. It’s tough to look upon something you’ve nurtured and grown, only to wonder about where all the efforts will lead. The truth is, no doors have closed in China. Doors have only opened in other places.

Dear MeiLi, Such a huge shift loaded with uncertainty, excitement, and sprinkled with nuts! I wish I could offer a peep into the future, assuring that everything will be fine, but this is where faith is needed more than ever. As our lives change, call upon all known sources of love, guidance, and every memory and evidence of life’s positive gifts. Call upon faith to see you across into a new life, surrounded by loved ones, new adventures, new promise, dreams, possibilities. Breathe. No questions can be answered right away. Each day we arrive at a better place where anxieties of the unknown become soothing realities of realization. Remember to take time to sit in peace and take in calmness. Take time to be thankful for all that lead to this day, this moment. Sometimes we fear for the worst and forget to ask ourselves, ‘What if everything on the other side of the night is an amazing life filled with reward unfathomable. We have daily gifts given to each of us. Special moments and opportunities unique to each of us. MeiLi, you have a gift inside you which God believed only a beautiful, strong, soulful, loving, talented woman like yourself could love. You’ve loved so many quirky people from all walks, including myself. Now you get to love your very own child who will love you and need you in a way I can only dream and look forward to. I love you MeiLi. Thank you for gracing my life with your presence, your light, your smiles, and your love. Love, Shanti

Photos by Alex Wang