Polo Lifestyles-Haiti: Nov-Dec 2025 Gift Guide

VOLUME IX / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2025

TRIPLE CORONA DE ARGENTINA: 132 O ABIERTO DE ARGENTINA GALICIA · ABIERTO FEMENINO DE ARGENTINA

EXTRAVAGANT & EXCLUSIVE GIFTS TO INSPIRE AND DELIGHT

NO HOLIDAY ROMANCE? NOVELS TO KEEP YOU

10

WARM ALL NIGHT

BUBBLES!

PLAYTHINGS

BOISTEROUS CALIFORNIA SPARKLING WINES

OF THE RICH POWERFUL AND INCREASINGLY YOUNG

LUXURY CARS

OF THE FUTURE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

IS EVERYTHING MORE EXPENSIVE OR IS IT JUST ME?

WHEN YOU'RE THE PERSON WHO HAS EVERYTHING

THE ULTRA-RICH ARE PAYING A FORTUNE TO LIVE IN EXTREME PRIVACY

ADD TO CART

DESIGNERS SHARE WHAT'S IN THEIR BASKET

OUR OBSESSION WITH UGLY DOGS

THE DANGER OF A

WHITE LIE THE VERGE OF GREATNESS

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Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher

Joshua Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief

Dr. Michael J. Snell

Lifestyles & Luxury Automobile Contributor

William Smith

Copy Editor & Wine Contributor

Claire Barrett

Joey Velez Wellness Contributor

Raabi Benadada

Head of Photography

Polo Contributor

Dana Romita

Raphael K. Dapaah

Amritlal अमृत

Dr. Michael J. Snell - NYC Miriam P. Owens - NYC

Luxury Real Estate Contributor

Art Contributor

Brand Representatives

Ascension Contributor

Tom Landry

Design Contributor Polo Photographers

Katerina Morgan Justine Jacquemot Irina Kazaridi Helen Cruden Pascal Renauldon Kathrin Gralla

Contributing Photographers

Xavier Merchet-Thau Aubrey Chandler Eric Carré Eva Espresso Rob Miskowitch Margarita Crotto

Polo Lifestyles is a publication of HT Polo Publishing Co. 995 Detroit Avenue, Suite A Concord, CA 94518 Cover photo credit: Keendra Jackson Content Copyright © Polo Lifestyles 2025 All Rights Reserved.

For information or to advertise Contact marketing@pololifestyles.com Read online at www.pololifestyles.com On Instagram & Facebook @pololifestyles A proud partner of Issuu, House On Third U.S. Polo Assn., The Impression and Mixam

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WWW.PO LO WW W. P O L O L ILFIFES E S TTYYLES L E S ..COM COM

GRAND CHAMPIONS USPA North American Cup USPA National 20-Goal Legends of Polo International Cup LA PALMERAIE MOROCCO The Autumn Cup THE TRIPLE CROWN OF POLO Tortugas Open Hurlingham Open Argentine Open ST. REGIS ASPEN Snow Polo World Championship KITZBUHEL Snow Polo World Cup ST. MORITZ Snow Polo World Cup MIAMI ART DISTRICT Art Basel Miami NATIONAL POLO CENTER The Gauntlet of Polo

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SCOREBOARDS & COCKTAILS

TRIPLE CROWN OF POLO

CAMPO DE ARGENTINA Page 26

POLO LIFESTYLES EDITORS & CONTRIBUTORS

Ambassador Claude-Alix Bertrand Publisher Polo Lifestyles @haiti_polo_captain

Eric Carré

Photographer EC Photography @ti_carre

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Josh Jakobitz

Editor-in-Chief Polo Lifestyles @joshuajakobitz

Claire Barrett

Copy Editor & Contributor

@clairebarrettphoto

@willismith_2000

Claire Barrett Photography May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust

Eva Espresso Photographer

Eva Espresso Photography

@eva.espresso

William Smith

Head of Photography

Katerina Morgan

Polo Photographer Horse Polo Art Gallery @horsepoloartgallery

Raphael K. Dapaah Art Contributor Dapaah Gallery @dapaahgallery

Amritlal अमृत

Ascension Contributor Monarch Visionary @monarch_visionary

Michael J. Snell

Lifestyles & Luxury Automobiles Contributor @agnello_1

Joey Velez

Wellness Columnist

Velez Mental Performance

@velezmentalhealth

Dana Romita

Real Estate Contributor Douglas Elliman @danaromita

Tom Landry

Design Contributor House on Third @tomlandry2

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Playthings of the rich and increasingly young, page 60

Rag & Bone Cruise Collection, page 140

The price tag for extreme privacy, page 72

Our obsession with ugly dogs, page 66

POLO LIFESTYLES NINTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE PAGE 103

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APPY HOLIDAYS FROM PARADISE! I’M SITTING AT THE DINING ROOM TABLE ON THE WRAPAROUND VERANDA OF OUR HOLIDAY VILLA IN ST-BARTHS AS I TYPE THIS, HOURS BEFORE ANYONE ELSE WILL BE UP AND AROUND FOR BRUNCH. I don’t claim to be much of a morning person, but mornings here are magical, warm and just perfect. From the hillside, I can see the boats and catamarans in the harbor, bikes, motor scooters, cars and trucks on the winding roads that run along the coastlines. Eden Rock’s red silhouette in the distance marks the geographic center of St-Jean with its beaches that stretch from the airport to La Guerite Plage Beach Club.

With my coffee (that I’ll trade out for a mimosa as soon as others join me) in hand, a notebook, a phone and my laptop, I could be working from anywhere, but this is the view I spend 11 months thinking about. Something else that I spend nearly 11 months thinking about is the contents of our annual Gift Guide. This year, with over 100 ideas and a new format, is the most-colorful and comprehensive guide yet.

There’s something for everyone on your list.

Thank you for reading and sharing Polo Lifestyles. January’s issue will commence our ninth edition and it feels surreal to think about eight full years of editing this incredible, living and breathing book.

Happy holidays, Josh Jakobitz Editor-in-Chief josh@pololifestyles.com

TRIPLE CROWN PHOTO BY MATHIAS CALLEJO

VOLUME IX / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2025

@elledecor

@vancleefarpels

@christofle

@palacescope

@cartier

@hublot

@guys_animals

@gucci

@domperignon

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Click and comment on our choices... Tag @pololifestyles.

We will share noteworthy comments with you next month.

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@wontonthebulldog

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The last League A games of the 132nd. Argentine Polo Open Championship took place on Monday November 24, at Palermo. It’s worth to notice that two games were due on Saturday November 22, but were delayed due to rain.

The first contest saw UAE, with a 2-0 record and already in the league decider, against Los Machitos, who secured their spot in the 2026 Triple Crown, and aimed to earn their first win in the Open.

UAE was the dominant force throughout the first two chukkas.

After claiming a 2-21 lead in the first, UAE overwhelmed Los Machitos in the second – they outscored them 5-1 with goals by Polito Pieres (2), Tomás Panelo (2) and Lukin Monteverde; that meant that the scoreboard read a comfortable 7-1 lead for UAE. However, and from the third chukka onwards, Los Machitos bounced back slowly, while UAE, who managed to retain the lead until half time, seemed to slow down. In an impressive comeback, Los Machitos outscored UAE in the third and fourth chukka, led by an outstanding Torito Ruiz (already one of the best players of the current Triple Crown). From a 1-7 behind, they managed to close the gap to three goals by the end of the sixth chukka.

UAE were already in the semifinal, but Los Machitos did want to win the contest. In the seventh chukka, Los Machitos tied at 11-all, with two unanswered goals by Alfredo Bigatti and one from Diego Cavanagh’s mallet – something that no one dared to think they could achieve in the second chukka! In the meantime, UAE seemed to be far from the whirlwind they were at the start of the match. But they wouldn’t give up – two 30-yards penalty conversions by Polito Pieres, in the last seconds of play in the seventh chukka, allowed UAE to re-take the lead, 13-11, with only one chukka left. But nothing was said and done yet.

Halfway in the last chukka, Diego Cavanagh ran to the goalposts to close the gap again to one goal (12-13).

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Polito Pieres, to widen their advantage to 14-12, with three minutes to go in the last chukka. Although Los Machitos never surrendered, every attempt to score were unsuccessful. At the end of the day, and with only 16 seconds in the clock, Juan Martín Nero produced the last goal of the match, to secure a very hard fought 15-12 win for UAE. A hard-fought win due to Los Machitos great efforts to overcome the game.

La Natividad La Dolfina and Sol de Agosto closed the day. As we all are aware, the former are the winners of the Tortugas Open and the Hurlingham Open, and with the sights in their sole objective – claiming the Triple Crown. With regards to their contenders, Sol de Agosto had an (almost impossible) task ahead – to earn a win to step into the main draw of the 2026 Triple Crown. Otherwise, they would play the playoff, but before they must wait that neither La Dolfina II and La Zeta Kazak win their respective games next weekend.

As expected, La Natividad La Dolfina didn’t waste time, and earned a quick 5-0 lead in the first chukka, with goals split between Poroto Cambiaso (2), Barto Castagnola (2) and Adolfo Cambiaso. Following the overwhelming first chukka, the Cañuelas-based lineup seemed to slow down a bit, while Sol de Agosto struggled to stay in the game, thanks mostly to Benjamin Panelo’s accuracy to convert penalty.

However, that wouldn’t last much – La Dolfina imposed their play, their authority, that saw them by half time leading by an impressive 11-4.

It may sound repetitive, but it’s remarkable how very easy La Natividad La Dolfina make everything. It’s not just a lineup who play first class polo, but it’s also about four guys who have fun on the field, they fit to perfection and overwhelm every one of their contenders, whether it’s a team from the qualification or any other who is maybe up to the task. No matter what, the truth is that La Natividad La Dolfina is always one or two steps ahead of everybody.

Sol de Agosto spent two chukkas unable to produce a goal – in the fifth, Benjamin Panelo converted a 30-yards penalty, but it was not enough. La Natividad La Dolfina were 13-5 ahead. And they remained the same until the end; everything was said and done by the end of the seventh chukka, when La Natividad La Dolfina were 18-5 ahead. Poroto Cambiaso and Jeta Castagnola added two more goals in the last chukka, to claim a terrific 20-6 victory. Now, the next step for the Cañuelas boys is UAE, a clash that not only will be the fight for a spot in the most awaited championship match of the year, but also a rematch of the last Hurlingham Open final.

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THE LUXURY CARS OF THE FUTURE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR PAGE 52

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THE LUXURY CARS OF THE FUTURE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR

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T ONE TIME, CHOOSING A SPORTS CAR MEANT SACRIFICING COMFORT, AS MOST OF THESE PERFORMANCE MACHINES HAD A STIFF RIDE, A CRAMPED BARE-BONES INTERIOR, AND AN OVERALL LACK OF LUXURY FEATURES. THAT’S FAR FROM THE CASE THESE DAYS. Modern luxury sports cars deliver scintillating speed and a level of comfort and poshness that make them just as plush as they are exciting. Here are the best ones for 2025 and 2026.

2026 PORSCHE 911 TURBO S BASE PRICE: $272,650 The Porsche 911 Turbo occupies a unique space in the automotive world by offering near-hypercar performance on all levels in a package that’s usable as a daily driver. That recipe just got sweeter

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for 2026, as the Turbo S gains a version of Porsche’s T-Hybrid power train producing an astounding 701 horsepower. To put that power to the pavement, there are wider rear tires and a new tread compound as well as a quick-acting all-wheel-drive system. Other upgrades for 2026 include the addition of larger brakes, and updates to the suspension too. Like before, if ragtops are your thing, the Cabriolet can be had for another $14,000.

2026 MERCEDES-AMG SL BASE PRICE: $113,100 Every Mercedes SL is officially an AMG model now. And judged from just about any angle, it’s a stunner. The SL has long been a luxury car first, and although the latest model is harder-edged than before, it can still cruise in perfect comfort. But there is no shortage of capability for taking a blast up your favorite canyon road. That’s true of the SL 63 and its 577hp V-8 and even more so of the SL 63 S E Performance hybrid with its combined output of 805 horsepower. And new this

year is the Maybach SL 680 which adds a heavy dose of luxe to what’s basically a standard SL63 power train for $226,050 We’d probably stick with that standard SL 63 model, as it’s plenty of car for about 35K less.

2026 LEXUS LC 500 BASE PRICE: $101,700 The Lexus LC 500 is an old-school grand-touring sports coupe in the best possible way. Under that svelte hood is a naturally aspirated 5.0-liter V-8 with 471 horsepower paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission. And that V-8 makes the kind of music that we love.

60 mph comes up in 4.4 seconds, or a tick slower if you opt for the convertible model. Gone is the LC 500h and its V-6 hybrid power train, and we won’t miss it.

Inside, the LC is a charmer with a high level of material and build quality typical of the most expensive Lexus models. The LC has a small, two-passenger rear seat, but it’s best left for kids. The stylish LC Inspiration Series will be limited to 200 coupes and 350 convertibles with unique

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colorways and trim. There are rumors that this will be the final year for the LC; if so, we’ll miss this pretty two door.

2026 BMW M850I BASE PRICE: $110,575 Pour one out for the BMW M8, because 2025 is the last model year for the 617-hp two-door (the four-door Gran Coupe is still around for one more year). However, coupe fans will have just one more year to snap up the regular 8-series two-door Bimmer, because after that, it’s history, too. The top model for 2026 is the M850i.

And with a 523-hp twin-turbo V-8 on tap, it’s capable of hitting 60 mph in just over 3.0 seconds and sounds wonderful

doing so. And thanks to adaptive dampers, it’s great for a spirited rip through the canyons and can also be highly refined and comfortable when you want it. This is the perfect car for a long weekend in wine country away from the kids.

2026 ASTON MARTIN VANTAGE BASE PRICE: $195,000 (ESTIMATED) It’s impossible not to look sharp driving an Aston Martin Vantage. This car, in both Coupe and Roadster configurations, is understated and gorgeous to behold.

It’s a smooth cruiser when you need it to be, but point that trademark Aston prow towards some tight, twisty roads

and you’ll find a chassis that’s up to the task with a feel that’s more organic and pleasingly old-school than many modern sports cars. The Aston’s Mercedes-AMG– sourced engine, a big, brilliant 656-hp twin-turbo V-8, lurks under the hood ready to snap off high 10-second quarter-mile times. Opt for the Vantage S and you’ll have 670 horsepower to play with.

The leather-lined interior is snug but adorned with swanky touches that make it feel special.

2026 BMW Z4 BASE PRICE: $57,275 The BMW Z4 is a prototypical roadster in many ways, offering long-hood,

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short-deck proportions and a fabric folding roof. Both a 255-hp four-cylinder and a 382-hp six cylinder are available. Both are turbocharged and both come standard with an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission.

But for those that enjoy shifting for themselves, there’s an optional six-speed manual available for the inline-six called the Handschalter (hand shift) package that tops the range at just over $70,000.

It comes with a unique suspension tune and larger wheels. The Z4 doesn’t have the knife-edged shaper handling of, say the dearly departed mid-engine Porsche 718. But as a luxurious sports car that can do double duty as a GT, the Z4 is a solid machine.

2026 MCLAREN GTS BASE PRICE: $224,400 McLaren realized that a group of its buyers wanted a touch more comfort in their supercars. So the engineers softened things up slightly and delivered the GT, a sweet spot for a daily usability and refinement. Now called GTS, the latest version of that car has updates including more power and a bit more muscle to the PAGE 56

design. The company’s 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 sends 626 horsepower to the rear tires through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. But really what makes this car great is the balance between ride and handling thanks to the adaptive dampers and the incredibly precise and organic steering. The seats are designed for longer drives as well. And overall, there’s plenty of usable space for two people and their things.

2026 MASERATI GRANTURISMO ASE PRICE: $159,495 The Maserati GranTurismo might just be the most traditional looking of the sporty luxury cars on this list. But don’t let the subtle styling fool you. The GT has a 483-hp version of the twin-turbo V-6 used in the Maserati MCPura supercar (previously called MC20). That V-6 emits some wonderful snaps and snarls from the tailpipes, making for an engaging auditory experience. As one might imagine from a six-figure Maserati, the interior is a gorgeous blend of soft leather, carbon fiber, and aluminum. And of course, there’s plenty of space for two people to go on an extended vacation. There’s a

convertible version, too as well as a full electric model called the Folgore, which the company says will hit 60 mph in just 2.7 seconds and offer a driving range of 242 miles.

2027 FERRARI AMALFI BASE PRICE: $283,000 (ESTIMATED) Not every Ferrari is a hard-edged track weapon. The new Amalfi, which replaces the Roma, offers a more civilized take on the prancing horse. The “plus two” in the car’s 2+2 seating arrangement is best left either for tiny tots or luggage for the grown-ups. But either way, there’s more practicality in this Ferrari than any other model in the automaker’s lineup. The luxurious interior is designed with more comfort in mind. But the practicality of the new Amalfi won’t be outweighed by the thrills. This sports machine has a twin-turbo 3.9-liter V-8 with 631 horsepower hitched to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox. So, the run to 60 mph should be in the low-3.0second range.

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THE PLAYTHINGS OF THE RICH, POWERFUL AND INCREASINGLY

YOUNG

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BY J O E LO M B A R D I / S P E C I A L TO P O LO L I F E S T Y L E S

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THE PLAYTHINGS OF THE RICH, POWERFUL AND INCREASINGLY

YOUNG

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MONG THE RAREFIED OWNERS OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST SUPERYACHTS, ONE FLOATING VILLA IS NOT ENOUGH. SOMETIMES YOU NEED TWO: ONE FOR THE FAMILY, AND ANOTHER FOR THE TOYS. THIS SHADOW YACHT FERRIES THE JET SKIS, HELICOPTER AND SUBMARINE. IT ALSO HOLDS THE SMALLER BOAT THAT ZIPS YOU INTO MONACO IN TIME FOR LUNCH AT LE LOUIS XV. Or perhaps you have a chase boat, a speedy, smaller vessel with its own crew that rides alongside the yacht but is zippy enough for shorter day trips.

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“People have full fleets, and a private jet to get you there,” said Farouk Nefzi, chief marketing officer for Feadship Royal Dutch Shipyards, sitting in a tent at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, the world’s largest in-water boat show, which ended Nov. 2. “These people live intense lives.”

Unlike a billionaire’s other indulgences, like a home or private jet, which have practical uses, the yacht “is totally unnecessary,” Mr. Nefzi said. “It’s 100 percent emotion.”

On Oct. 29, as Hurricane Melissa bore down on the Caribbean, more than 100,000 people flocked to Fort Lauderdale to look at the 1,300 vessels on display. More than 200 of them were classified as superyachts, meaning they were at least 24 meters long (78.7 feet), or about the length of a tennis court. On

the opening day, as rain pelted the docks, crews mopped the decks and leaned over the hulls to wipe the fiberglass dry. A squad of cheerleaders in blue and white uniforms, clutching their pompoms, practiced a routine to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” amid the crowd.

Weaving through the bustling docks, brokers and buyers in khakis and loafers, speaking English, French, Italian and Portuguese, skipped over puddles to survey the inventory during appointment-only viewings. Step aboard a superyacht, and a crew, dressed in matching uniforms, would be waiting with a basket for your shoes and cloth booties for your bare feet.

At 85 million euros, or nearly $100 million, the most expensive offering was Hampshire, a 66.25-meter vessel owned by the British billionaire Andrew Currie.

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It comes equipped with two helipads, an infinity Jacuzzi and a shell door that opens at sea level for lounging.

Today’s superyacht buyers are younger and richer than they were a decade ago, and they’re increasingly American, enriched by the pandemic business boom, a roaring stock market and deep tax cuts.

Rather than wait for a gilded retirement, they are buying in their prime, looking for a plaything with all the trappings of home. They’re tethered to the world with Starlink internet while they play in St. Barth or Sardinia, or venture to more out-of-reach corners, like the Arctic.

Among the coveted features are basketball courts, discos, underwater lounges, gyms, and wellness spas.

While yacht sales overall are down amid concerns about tariffs and an uncertain

economy, sales of superyachts 40 meters and larger are up from last year, according to SuperYacht Times, which provides industry data. The company also reported that in 2024, sales of boats over 80 meters, about the length of a riverboat cruise ship, almost doubled from 2023 levels, and are on track to hold steady in 2025.

Americans own more superyachts over 40 meters than anyone else in the world, accounting for 23 percent of the global fleet, according to SuperYacht Times.

Russians, who have vanished from the market since the country’s invasion of Ukraine, are a distant second, at 7 percent.

“American buyers are the cork that keeps everything floating,” said Ralph Dazert, head of intelligence for SuperYacht Times.

The top 0.1 percent of American households saw their wealth grow by 90 percent, to a collective $23.3 trillion, from the fourth quarter of 2017, when President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, to the second quarter of 2025, according to the Federal Reserve.

Americans for Tax Fairness, a tax policy advocacy group, found that the number of billionaires tracked by Forbes grew by nearly 40 percent, to 905 people, during the same period.

“The wealthy became very wealthy in the U.S. You can attribute that to Trump,” said Jan VanHogerwou, an executive at the Dutch shipyard Amels, while standing in front of the 74-meter Casino Royale, the largest vessel at the Fort Lauderdale show, which his company built.

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A decade ago, Americans accounted for a sliver of Amels’ superyacht business.

Today, they make up 85 percent of it.

Among the company’s commissions is a

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superyacht that can grow its own food so its owner can live onboard autonomously if necessary to escape land during a pandemic or war. “They call them

Armageddon buyers,” Mr. VanHogerwou said.

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OUR OBSESSION WITH UGLY DOGS PAGE 66

ISABELLE GERRETSEN/SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES

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GLY DOGS AND OTHER UNATTRACTIVE PETS ARE FAR FROM AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, YET THEY STILL TUG ON OUR HEART STRINGS. WHAT’S GOING ON? Every June in Petaluma, California, judges cast their eye over a line-up of squashed snouts, snaggled teeth, bulging eyes and bristling whiskers to decide on the winner of the World Ugliest Dog contest. Invariably, the contestants for this dubious honor melt the hearts of animal lovers across the globe.

Unflattering photos of pets are also a common staple of viral internet content.

So why do we find ugly animals so appealing? And what makes odd-looking creatures so cute?

Evolution plays a role.

According to Austrian zoologist Konrad Lorenz, human attraction to infantile features, such as big eyes, large heads and soft bodies, is an evolutionary adaptation that helps ensure that adults care for their offspring, guaranteeing the survival of their species.

These infantile features were coined “baby schema” by Lorenz in 1943.

who has studied how baby schema relates to human-animal interaction. (Read more about how this can lead us to become spider-murderers.)

Weird-looking animals such as blobfish, pugs, aye-ayes and bulldogs all share these infantile qualities that trigger an affectionate response among humans and an innate instinct to nurture and protect.

A 2014 study by Borgi and other researchers found that the concept of “cuteness” is hard-wired and develops at a very young age, with children as young as three showing a preference for animals and humans with big eyes, button noses and round faces.

And these infantile characteristics increase a person’s “protective behavior, attention and willingness to care” for the individual and reduce the “likelihood of aggression towards an infant”, says Marta Borgi, a researcher at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità in Rome,

In humans, whose young “depend completely on their caregivers for sustenance and protection, such a response has clear value as it contributes to enhancing offspring’s chances of survival”, she says.

“We showed that the attentive response towards infantile facial traits in dogs and cats emerges very early during our development,” says Borgi.

The researchers analyzed the eye movements of children

aged three to six and found that they were more focused on images of dogs, cats and humans that had been digitally modified to give them enhanced infantile traits. They also asked the children to rate the images on a scale of one to five, with one being “not cute” and five being “very cute”. The children ranked round faces with high foreheads, big eyes and small noses as cuter than those with less infantile traits.

“We showed that the degree of facial baby schema in dogs and cats is a salient trait affecting ‘cuteness perception’ in children,” says Borgi.

Ugly animals often have other value – some, like the blobfish or the naked mole rat, live in extreme environments that they have adapted to in remarkable ways. Scientists are keen to study these animals to understand whether their biology might provide fresh insights that could lead to PA G E 67

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treatments for human health conditions such as cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases.

But while many ugly creatures are exquisitely adapted to their life in the wild and can provide enormous benefits to the ecosystems they live in, they often still don’t get as much attention as more traditionally cute and cuddly animals.

This can result in a bias which leads to many of the less attractive species being overlooked in terms of research.

(Read more about the value of unloved animals.)

There are culture-led other factors that also drive our obsession with ugly-cute animals. “The ugly-cute thing is very fashionable,” says Rowena Packer, lecturer in companion animal behavior and welfare science at the Royal Veterinary College, University of London, in the UK. This is partly driven by social media, with many celebrities and influencers PAGE 68

showing off pet pugs and French bulldogs on Instagram, she says.

But there are some serious welfare concerns around this trend. Veterinarians are urging people to not choose a brachycephalic, or flat-faced dog breed, because they suffer from serious health problems.

Pugs and French bulldogs which have been selectively bred experience breathing difficulties, repeated skin infections and eye diseases.

A 2022 study concluded that pugs can “no longer be considered a typical dog from a health perspective” as they face such severe health problems. Pugs in the UK are almost twice as likely to suffer from one or more health disorders each year compared to other breeds.

There’s a huge trend towards people wanting dogs with very exaggerated skin folding and having little pocket-sized bodies

In the summer, pugs are also at risk of heat-stroke as they struggle to regulate their body temperature. “If you think about wolves, they have very long noses,” says Packer. “They rely upon heat exchange through the nasal passage which allows them to effectively regulate their temperature… they don’t sweat like us.”

But pugs have very small nostrils and narrow airways which makes it difficult for them to breathe and cool their bodies when it is hot.

As a result many pugs make snoring and snorting noises which people often consider “cute” and a reflection of the dog’s personality, says Packer. “But this is actually a sign of their obstructed airways.”

Despite their many health problems, pugs remain very popular. According to the Royal Veterinary College, there was a five-fold increase in pug registrations to the Kennel Club, the UK’s national dog register, between 2005-2017. The

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OUR OBSESSION WITH UGLY DOGS American Kennel Club lists pugs as the 35th most popular dog breed out of 280 registered breeds. The French Bulldog, another brachycephalic, became the most popular dog in the US by registrations for the first time in 2022.

“There are a lot of psychological barriers which prevent people from accepting the health problems of brachycephalic dogs,” says Packer. “People like the fact that pugs are very clownish and very lazy and they don’t want to see them becoming more moderate by crossing them with other breeds. They’re worried that they’re not going to be this funny ‘couch potato’

anymore, even though that is actually the embodiment of the diseases that we’re giving them.”

Crossbreeding flat-faced dogs with other breeds is “really essential,” she says. “As well as having really extreme phenotypes of body shapes, they also have very low genetic diversity.”

Genetic diversity is important as without it harmful traits and diseases can quickly spread through a population and ultimately cause them harm – or even to die out. A 2016 analysis of 102 registered English bulldogs found that they had lit-

tle genetic diversity in both their maternal and paternal lines, including in the part of the genome containing genes that regulate normal immune responses.

Bulldogs are “becoming caricatures of their original forms,” says Packer.

“There’s a huge trend towards people wanting dogs with very exaggerated skin folding and having little pocket-sized bodies. But actually that reflects malformations with their spine – their vertebrae are now malformed, which can lead to a whole host of neurological diseases.”

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THE ULTRA-RICH ARE SPENDING A FORTUNE TO LIVE IN EXTREME PRIVACY

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ARIAN CAMPOS FLORES/SPECIAL TO POLO LIFESTYLES

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SPENDING A FORTUNE TO LIVE IN EXTREME PRIVACY

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N MIAMI AND ELSEWHERE, THE WEALTHY ARE MOVING IN INCREASINGLY PRIVATE SPHERES, SHELLING OUT BIG MONEY TO BYPASS THE INDIGNITIES OF PUBLIC LIFE When developers Masoud and Stephanie Shojaee dined out recently, they headed to the members-only section of MILA restaurant in Miami Beach, Fla., where they were whisked to a table already bearing their favorite cocktails and chopsticks engraved with their names.

On a business trip to Dubai last month, the Shojaees exited their Bombardier Global jet and later stepped into a waiting Maybach that zipped them to a lavish hotel. They went through a private entrance that bypassed the lobby and took an elevator straight up to the Royal Suite, where a staffer checked them in and presented their butler.

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“For me, luxury in this era is defined as time-saving and efficiency and service,” said Masoud Shojaee, the 65-year-old chief executive of Shoma Group, a residential and commercial developer.

year, from $10.7 trillion a decade earlier, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The amount held by the bottom 50% increased to $4.2 trillion from $900 billion over that period.

The ultrawealthy are wielding their growing fortunes to glide through a rarefied realm unencumbered by the inconveniences of ordinary life. They don’t wait in lines. They don’t jostle with airport crowds or idle unnecessarily in traffic.

The Miami area provides a window into this world. Long a destination for wealthy elites from the Northeast, Europe and Latin America, it has become an even stronger magnet for the affluent in recent years, fostered by pandemic-era migration and the region’s emergence as a technology and finance hub.

Instead, an ecosystem of exclusive restaurants, clubs, resorts and other service providers delivers them customized and exquisite experiences as fast as possible.

The spaces they inhabit are often private, carefully curated and populated by like-minded and similarly well-heeled peers.

The acquisitive power of the very rich is soaring. The net worth held by the top 0.1% of households in the U.S. reached $23.3 trillion in the second quarter this

“There’s been an explosion of wealth creators,” said Patrick Dwyer, a managing director at NewEdge Wealth, a wealth-management firm, in Miami.

“Now they have enough money to live exactly how they want to live.”

A new service economy enables them to avoid everybody else if they want to.

In the Bentley Residences condo tower under construction in Sunny Isles Beach,

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north of Miami, car elevators will deliver residents straight up to their homes and deposit vehicles in adjoining “sky garages,” avoiding the need to deal with parking valets and reception areas.

swimming, occasionally ringing a butler to bring him a whiskey.

Units, whose prices start at about $6 million, will each feature a private pool perched on an expansive terrace. The building’s restaurant, available only to owners, will feature C-shaped booths arranged in a way to keep guests out of each other’s view.

At his 50th birthday party earlier this year, Dezer hired artists including rappers Fat Joe and El Alfa to perform on the beach in front of his home—effectively turning a concert experience that is usually public into a private bash.

“The ultimate luxury is privacy,” said Gil Dezer, the 50-year-old president of Dezer Development, who patented the car lift and dubbed it the Dezervator.

Dezer knows from experience. Several years ago, he traveled to Belize aboard his Gulfstream jet and took a helicopter to a private island resort with only seven villas, each set off from the others and equipped with its own plunge pool and dock. He spent his days lounging and

“It feels like you have the place to yourself,” Dezer said.

Those who can afford it sometimes rent an entire facility to have exclusive use of it. At Centner Wellness, a high-end holistic healing center in Miami that offers a host of treatments employing the latest technology, rich clients occasionally book the whole place for several days, said founder Leila Centner.

One family of about 10 people did that a few months ago, she said, turning the 15,000-square-foot center into their own wellness playground, at a cost of

$150,000. Each had a tailored experience, from blood cleansing to cell rejuvenation to transcranial magnetic stimulation, with plenty of pampering in between.

When the ultrawealthy choose to socialize, they often seek circles that are meticulously selected, said Gregory Pool, a managing director with NewEdge Wealth in Miami.

Faena Rose is a private social club in Miami Beach focused on art and culture, whose members are vetted by a committee and pay $15,000 initially and another $15,000 annually. They get VIP access to the beach club, spa and other amenities at the Faena Miami Beach hotel, and admission to roughly 80 cultural events a year, held in intimate settings for members only.

Those include dance performances by Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and recitals by the Metropolitan Opera.

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“That level of access is really, really compelling,” said Pablo De Ritis, president of Faena Rose.

A newer variant: private dinner clubs, where members get haute cuisine, personalized service and the ability to secure a table whenever they want. ZZ’s Club in Miami—where Dezer is a member—features a Japanese restaurant, a sports bar and a cigar terrace. A “culinary concierge” can, with 48 hours’ notice, arrange any kind of dining experience members want, from a 12-course caviar feast to a re-creation of a memorable meal from a honeymoon.

“The more personalized and the more seamless, and the less things you have to ask for…that’s what great service is,” said Jeff Zalaznick, co-founder of Major Food Group, which owns ZZ’s.

Masoud and Stephanie Shojaee frequent the members-only MILA MM—where they can enjoy each other’s company or that of friends without the distraction of crowds—and other curated social spaces.

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Last month, she sat in the front row for the Schiaparelli show at Paris Fashion Week, she said, and struck up a conversation with a woman next to her who was from one of the wealthiest families in Monaco. They hit it off and a week later, met at a sushi place in Paris together with their husbands.

In these settings, “the conversations for some reason, they just feel safer, and they feel deeper,” said Stephanie, 41, president of Shoma Group and a cast member of “The Real Housewives of Miami” show this year. “You hang out with people that are like-minded.”

The curation extends to the couple’s clothes shopping. They no longer go to high-end malls. Instead, Masoud gets a large suitcase of items from NB44, a members-only apparel brand, shipped to him every quarter, while Stephanie regularly receives racks of new collections from brands like Valentino and Christian Dior along with an alterationist to make any adjustments.

Travel has always been a key feature of wealthy people’s lives, and more than ever they prioritize privacy, efficiency and customization, industry specialists say.

Lauren Beall, owner of Travel Couture in Miami Beach, specializes in arranging custom travel experiences for the ultrawealthy. She has booked private islands for clients and flown in Michelinstarred chefs, yoga instructors and performers.

One coveted offering is a suite above the Christian Dior flagship store in Paris that can be rented, and includes an after-hours shopping excursion and a private dinner at Monsieur Dior restaurant.

An estate Beall has reserved in Scotland comes with private chefs, horses to explore the countryside and a helicopter to visit towns for the day.

“We’re into that exclusive access right now—things that other people can’t get,” Beall said. “There’s a huge price tag that goes with it.”

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IS EVERYTHING MORE EXPENSIVE OR

IS IT JUST ME?

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SOME THINGS COST MORE; SOME THINGS ARE JUST PSYCHOLOGY

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NFLATION HAS BEEN BRUTAL OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. AFTER DECADES OF RUNNING BELOW 3%, STARTING EARLY 2021, THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASED RAPIDLY AS THE ECONOMY OPENED BACK UP AFTER COVID-19 RELATED LOCKDOWNS. IT PEAKED AT 9.1% IN JUNE 2022 AND THEN DECLINED TO ITS CURRENT LEVEL OF 3.2%, PER BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS DATA. Even though inflation has cooled dramatically, when I went to the grocery store this weekend to pick up a few items, I was surprised at how much a few bags of items cost. If inflation has been declining, why does everything still seem so expensive?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIGH PRICES AND INFLATION The first reason prices seem high even though inflation is coming down is that there’s a difference between inflation and prices.

According to the International Monetary Fund, “Inflation measures how much more expensive a set of goods and services has become over a certain period, usually a year.” For example, if a container of almond milk rises from $3.99 to $4.49 over 12 months, it has an inflation rate of 12.5% ($0.50 divided by $3.99).

Now, after increasing in cost, almond milk is more expensive and likely to stay that way because the prices of most goods are sticky (once they increase, they usually don’t come back down). So, even if almond milk inflation goes to zero, when you go to the grocery store, you may think, “Wow — $4.49 for a carton almond milk? That’s expensive – I remember when it was $3.99.”

As inflation (hopefully) continues normalizing, the sticker shock you experience on certain items should

ease as you grow accustomed to higher prices. However, realize that price levels resulting from the inflationary run-up are likely here to stay for most goods and services.

PERSONAL INFLATION RATES DIFFER Next, inflation might feel higher than reported because the mix of goods and services you consume might have experienced higher inflation.

Inflation is typically reported as a single number. For example, the 3.2% inflation rate mentioned above is for the CPI on all items, which, according to BLS, “represents changes in prices of all goods and services purchased for consumption by urban households.” The CPI on all items is comprised of subcategories, including education, rent, food, energy, and others. Below is a chart from the Federal Reserve showing inflation rates from 2000 to 2022 for select subcategories.

You can see that some categories, like education and medical expenses, have significantly outpaced total inflation, while others, such as apparel and communications, have actually gotten cheaper.

This means the inflation you experience will depend on your mix of goods and services consumed. If you pay your child’s tuition, you’ll feel the sting of education inflation.

For example, when it takes $100 to fill your gas tank after it recently cost $85, you notice that change. But when you buy a new dishwasher for not much more than the one you purchased 10 years ago (and the new one uses less energy and is twice as quiet), or when your new MacBook Pro costs less than you paid for your old one (and has twice the memory and eight times the processing power), that lack of inflation probably doesn’t register. Yet, these items with lower inflation are elements of the full measurement and they pull down the overall rate.

ADOPT A COMPLETE MINDSET CONCERNING INFLATION Inflation isn’t pleasant – it stinks when consumers must pay more of their hard-earned money for the usual goods and services they consume.

Despite the overall downward trend in inflation from its peak in mid-2022, consumers continue to feel the pinch at the checkout line.

Yet, it’s important to have an accurate handle on how inflation is exactly affecting your finances. Recognizing that your personal inflation reality may differ from the headline numbers can help provide perspective as the economy transitions to hopefully a lower, more stable inflation trend.

If you own a house with a fixed mortgage payment, you won’t experience the inflationary effects of rent increases. If you have a short work commute, increases in gas prices won’t affect you as much as someone with a long commute.

THE FOCUSING EFFECT As noted in the prior section, some things we buy have experienced high inflation, and others have low inflation (or even disinflation). But psychological research suggests it’s human nature for us to focus on negative things, which in an inflation context means high-priced items.

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Explore the details of a new Bentley now

Visit your local Bentley dealer today and drive off in a new Bentley

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ATHENS REVEALS MASSIVE SUPERYACHT PORT PLANS

MEDITERRANEAN VOYAGES WILL SOON BE EVEN MORE APPEALING

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THENS IS GETTING AN INCREDIBLE NEW SUPERYACHT MARINA AS PART OF THE UPCOMING MULTI-BILLION-DOLLAR ELLINIKON MEGA-CITY. The Ellinikon Marina, also named Agios Kosmas in honor of 18th-century monk and missionary Saint Kosmas, will help cement the ancient city as one of Europe’s premier yachting destinations.

Construction has begun, with full operation expected sometime between 2028 and ‘29.

The marina will offer more than 400 berths for vessels up to 262 feet and a range of amenities, including refueling, provisioning, maintenance, and a concierge. It will also give seafarers access to over half a mile of beach and direct PAGE 86

connections to Athens. It will be environmentally friendly, too, with energy-efficient systems, bio-climatic design, and native landscaping.

Perhaps most importantly, the marina will sit adjacent to Riviera Galleria by Kengo Kuma. This flashy new waterfront destination will include over 75,000 square feet of high-end retail, fine dining, and cultural venues, meaning yachters will have plenty of things to see, do, and buy.

The marina is one of three helmed by Greece’s LAMDA Development: Agios Kosmas is, of course, under construction, Corfu is currently under development, and Flisvos opened south of the Athens city center in 2001.

The trio holds strategic positions along the Greek coastline, providing an inte-

grated Eastern Mediterranean route for owners and captains.

Then, there’s the surrounding mega-city.

Billed as the largest urban regeneration project in European history, Ellinikon is being built to the tune of $8.2 billion (€8 billion) in private investments. Located just 20 minutes from the Acropolis on the site of the city’s former airport and Olympic stadium complex, the metropolis will eventually be home to Greece’s first skyscraper—the 656-foot-tall Riviera Tower will offer 169 luxury apartments across 50 floors—plus Europe’s largest retail district, a huge dining galleria, a sprawling 1,500-acre coastal “smart park,” five-star hotels, a sporting complex, and a nex-gen transportation system.

Ellinikon is set to open in stages over the next few years. One part that is already welcoming visitors is the Experience

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Center. Set inside the largest of three airport hangars, the new gallery-like space lets you see all that is to come at the Ellinikon via a series of virtual exhibitions. “It is the best way to experi-

ence the project right now, globally, that will change the way people think about smart urban development, sustainable retail, recreation, travel experiences, and coastal living for years to come,” LAMDA

Development CEO Odisseas Athanasiou previously told Robb Report.

Looks like you might need to add Athens to your next itinerary.

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TIS THE SEASON

TO FALL IN LOVE

HOLIDAY ROMANCE NOVELS TO KEEP YOU WARM ALL NIGHT LONG

T

HE HOLIDAYS WERE MADE FOR LOVE STORIES. IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN UNEXPECTED SPARKS AND REKINDLED FLAMES FEEL NOT ONLY POSSIBLE BUT INEVITABLE. AT LEAST ON THE HALLMARK CHANNEL, BUT WE’RE ALLOWED TO LIVE IN A SNOW GLOBE BUBBLE FOR A FEW MONTHS.

From fake engagements to snowed-in enemies-to-lovers, these holiday romances go beyond the usual mistletoe moments.

Some follow city dwellers who stumble PAGE 90

into small towns that look straight out of a Christmas card, while others find a spark over tangled lights (or mistaken identities) at a holiday party. There are cozy inns in the Scottish Highlands, royal mishaps in glittering palaces, and meet-cutes involving everything from runaway dogs to holiday contests gone awry.

I’LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Prolific British holiday romance author Jenny Bayliss, author of The Twelve Dates of Christmas and Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, is back this year with a new gift for her readers. After a breakup and an eviction, Fred Hallow-Hart reluctantly returns to Pine Bluff, the small English town she’s spent years trying to leave

behind. Her eccentric great-aunts and her mother run the family’s Christmas cracker shop, and soon she’s drawn back into the rhythms of home. Between helping with the business, reconnecting with her childhood best friend, and meeting a visiting journalist, Fred begins to rediscover parts of herself she thought she’d outgrown. Known as “a Christmas book queen,” according to People, Bayliss brings her trademark humor to another story about second chances and the pull of coming home.

THE MISTLETOE KISSER A grump versus a small town obsessed with holiday cheer—it’s exactly the kind of setup that New York Times bestselling author Lucy Score does best. When a

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former accountant lands in Blue Moon to help his great-uncle, he finds himself outnumbered by free spirits and twinkle lights.

The local veterinarian, who remembers him as her first kiss, has no time for his city attitude or his injured livestock.

Score’s signature humor and slow-burn charm make this return to small-town chaos impossible to resist.

A MERRY LITTLE LIE It’s impossible to go a summer or holiday season without picking up a seasonal rom-com from Sarah Morgan. Her latest family saga takes off—or rather, doesn’t— from the airport. Becky’s trip home is off to a rocky start when she’s stranded and forced to carpool with her brother’s best friend—the only person who knows the secret she’s trying to hide.

Her twin, Rosie, is masking cracks in her whirlwind marriage, pretending everything’s fine as her insecurities mount.

And Hayley, the newest addition to the family, fears she may not fit in as she and her partner keep a secret of their own.

As seen in The Book Club Hotel and The Holiday Cottage, Morgan threads these stories together with warmth and tension, capturing a family whose love is very real but rarely simple.

RECIPE FOR TROUBLE In Dylan Morrison’s third book and first holiday rom-com, the kitchen is a war zone of flirtation and chaos. A brooding video editor collides with a golden-hearted chef, and the results are deliciously messy. Their paths cross in a bustling kitchen just as the holiday rush begins, forcing each of them to spend long hours alongside the one person they can’t quite figure out—or resist. What starts as reluctant teamwork turns into late nights, shared laughter, and a spark of heat.

BIG NICK ENERGY A librarian juggling two men with the same name tries to sort out her romantic confusion before December 25. One is all spreadsheets and future plans; the other makes handmade furniture and believes in magic. Caught between two very different versions of love, Kay juggles book deliveries by day and glittering dates by night, hoping to sort out her heart before Christmas morning. The premise is absurd in the best way, equal parts screwball and sweet.

A LITTLE HOLIDAY FLING Canadian romance writer Farah Heron, author of the bestsellers Accidentally Engaged and Jana Goes Wild, latest

brings a touch of wanderlust to this holiday novel. Ruby Dhanji, who inherited her mother’s love of Christmas, dreams of running an inn in England. Rashid, whose family owns a boutique hotel chain, would rather skip the festivities altogether. Their reluctant partnership—she helps him give his nieces the perfect Christmas, he introduces her to his family—builds into something far more intimate.

ANY GIRL BUT YOU A caffeine-fueled Christmas tree farmer meets her match in a sweet-natured baker when a cookie order gone wrong sparks a rivalry neither can resist. Quinn is a self-described disaster with a mission to save her family business; Zoey runs a small-town bakery with patience that runs out fast. Forced to collaborate to keep their dreams alive, they find themselves dancing around an attraction as undeniable as it is unexpected.

CHRISTMAS FLING A solo Christmas in London turns into something entirely unexpected when a woman house-sitting for a stranger is mistaken for his girlfriend. Before she can correct the misunderstanding, she’s on a train to the Scottish Highlands PA G E 91

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to spend the holidays with his family. Holiday dinners, snowy walks, and fast-building chemistry follow as the ruse grows harder to sustain. English author Lindsey Kelk, known for rom-com favorites like One in a Million and On a Night Like This, plays with mistaken identity and timing, crafting a story that feels both modern and timeless.

LAST FIRST KISS An event planner focused on climbing the professional ladder doesn’t expect his latest assignment to bring him face-toface with the one who got away. Years ago, a teenage kiss with his best friend sparked feelings that neither was ready to face. Now, reunited at a high-profile wedding, they’re back in each other’s orbit—swapping sarcasm for something softer amid the chaos of fittings, tastings, and late-night planning sessions. Julian Winters crafts a second-chance romance full of humor, heat, and heart. As The Love Hypothesis scribe Ali Hazelwood calls it, “the stuff romance dreams are made of,” while The Ex-Talk author Rachel Lynn Solomon praises it as “pure and utter fun, with a sparkling cast of characters and an effortlessly witty voice.”

ANNE OF AVENUE A In this Manhattan retelling of Jane Austen’s beloved Persuasion, a woman PAGE 92

trying to rebuild her life finds herself living across the hall from the man she once let go. Their unexpected reunion plays out against the backdrop of Thanksgiving dinners, holiday parties, and nosy neighbors who refuse to mind their own business. Audrey Bellezza and Emily Harding trade carriages for crosstown traffic, capturing the pulse of old love reborn in a city that never slows down.

YOURS FOR THE SEASON No one does the holidays like Emily Stone. Following up A Winter Wish and Love, Holly, the Welsh author is back with her fifth Christmas romance in five years. When her ex shows up asking for a favor, a woman agrees to spend Christmas pretending they’re back together. He needs to appease his family; she wants a little payback for how things ended. Stone sets the uneasy truce against a wintry Scottish backdrop filled with family games and second chances.

THE EIGHT HEARTBREAKS OF HANUKKAH Evelyn Schwartz is producing the live televised musical of A Christmas Carol— and keeping busy enough to avoid thinking about her ex-husband. That plan collapses when an accident on set lands her in the studio’s medical bay, face-toface with the doctor temporarily filling in

for her usual physician. He’s also her ex.

Over eight chaotic nights, ghosts of past heartbreaks and lingering affection make her question what went wrong—and what might still be right.

COWBOY, IT’S COLD OUTSIDE The resurgence of the cowboy romance continues into winter. After years of putting her sisters first, Sheena Patrick finally has plans of her own—opening an axe-throwing bar in her Oregon hometown before Christmas. To make it happen, she turns to Denver King, a rancher who’s spent years trying to repay the debt his family owes hers. Snowfall and long days on the ranch turn obligation into connection as the two realize their shared past runs deeper than either imagined.

It’s a story of unfinished business, second chances, and love taking root where it’s least expected.

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WHEN YOU'RE THE ONE WHO

HAS EVERYTHING T

HE BEST GIFTS WHEN YOU WERE SMALL ARE NOT THE SAME LUXURY GIFTS OF ADULTHOOD… MOST OF THE TIME.

since sixth form. In our experience, the sweet spot of high-end gifting isn’t about reckless extravagance but about choosing something that feels intentional, elevated and actually upgrade-worthy. These more than fit the bill.

While 8-year-old you might have found a shiny new Raleigh bike the epitome of luxury, you at 38 years old is probably more psyched by the idea of a Rolex GMT. In kind, pushing the boat out with the best gifts for girlfriends when you were both five probably meant sweets.

Now? Expensive means champagne, silk pajamas, designer bags, trinkets from the best women’s jewelry brands…

BEST HIGH-END GIFTS FOR HER

Feeling extra generous and on the pursuit for something that fits into one of these categories? Here’s a regularly updated guide to the things that ought to be on your list of potentials when buying an anniversary-ready best gifts for wives, a birthday best gifts for husbands or a just-because best gifts for moms who more than deserves it.

BEST HIGH-END GIFTS FOR HIM Finding a genuinely good gift for a man is a strange art. You’re dealing with creatures who will spend six months researching a coffee machine but cherish the same hole-ridden hoodie they’ve had PAGE 96

Women tend to know exactly what they want. The issue? What they want is usually better than whatever’s sitting in the “gifts for her” algorithm. And if you’re going high-end, it needs to feel extra worthy. Stylish without being tryhard. Practical without being boring.

Something that fits effortlessly into her routine, whether that’s beautifully made silk pajamas or a handbag all of her friends will coo over.

BEST HIGH-END TECH GIFTS The only high-end tech worth gifting is the kind that pulls its weight on the daily.

Not a gadget, a life-better. The coffee machine that becomes the most competent person in their household. The headphones that deliver a level of sound that ruins every other pair they own. The fitness equipment that makes discipline feel… aspirational? Somehow, these do all that and more.

BEST HIGH-END WATCH GIFTS

Ready to put everything else under the tree to shame? We got you. And don’t worry, these high-end watches aren’t all moonlighting as wrist weights. We’ve got subtle ones if you want subtle. Louder ones if you want loud. But always luxurious. With a sexy little watch winder, to boot.

BEST HIGH-END FRAGRANCE GIFTS Is your giftee a person who smells like they know good linen? Like they could feasibly be cast in a Luca Guadagnino film? Like they read French philosophy… in a hot way? Here are a few of our favorite high-end fragrances to nail their respective brief – all luxurious, confident, and a little addictive.

THE EXPERTS CHOOSE THE BEST HIGH-END GIFTS If you’re going to splash the cash, you ought to at least buy things that will stand the test of time — and that are actually worth the money. That’s the position of money-making expert Dan Hatfield, who selects some very prestigious gifts indeed as his high-end picks. Among them: the Jaeger-Lecoultre Reverso: “a statement piece that will never date” as well as “a future collector’s item that I believe will increase in value in years to come.”

J E S S I E AT K I N S O N , T H O M A S B A R R I E A N D L E L A L O N D O N / S P E C I A L T O P O L O L I F E S T Y L E S

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THE SAFEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO TRAVEL IN 2026 PAGE 100

BY B R I A N A. H E R N A N D E Z/S P E C I A L TO P O LO L I F E S T Y L E S

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Ninth Annual

HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

C U R AT E D B Y T H E P O L O L I F E S T Y L E S E D I T O R I A L T E A M : JOSHUA JAKOBITZ, WILLIAM SMITH & MICHAEL SNELL

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HOLIDAY for her GIFT GUIDE Tiffany & Co. T by Tiffany in 18K gold and pavé diamonds $46,000 Ralph Lauren Pavé Stirrup Lariat Necklace $2,600

Gucci Play watch with changeable faces $2,950

David Yurman Sculpted Cable Cuff Rings $9,800+

Harry Winston 9-Carat Yellow Diamond, Priced Accordingly

Jacob & Co. Brilliant Flying Tourbillon Arlequino Pastel $780,000

Balenciaga City Sneaker in Black $825

Valentino Beauty Les Cires Bougie + Le Bougeoir, Presale Only

Casa Dei Interstellar Blade Pump $900 each

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Fayendra Exclusive Gemstone Earrings, Priced Accordingly

Piaget Possession Ring $10,900

Gucci A Festive Pair for Gifting $4,200 As Shown Together

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Mouawad Great Wall of China Necklace, Priced Accordingly

Louis Vuitton LV Rouge Lipsticks in Satin or Matte $160 Each

Dolce & Gabbana DGFW5 Collection $1,600

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HOLIDAY for her GIFT GUIDE

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Dolce & Gabbana Sicily Bag $7,000

Bucherer Fine Jewellery Diamonds, Priced Accordingly

Even Keel Expedition Fizzy Bath Set $34

Formulary 55 Balsam & Fir Holiday Gold Gift Set $49

Cartier Cartier En Equilibre Necklace, Priced Accordingly

Sothebys Jewels Old Mine-Cut Diamonds, Up for Auction on December 9

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Cartier Cushion-Cut, Raised Rubies in Platinum $149,000

Piaget Shapes of Extraleganza High Jewellery, Price Upon Request

Tiffany & Co. Most-Iconic Engagement Ring, Priced Accordingly

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YSL Icarino Quilted Leather Tote $4,300

Caroline Groves Bespoke Collection, Priced Accordingly

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HOLIDAY for her GIFT GUIDE

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Tumi Limited Edition Essential Tote $395

Van Cleef & Arpels Perlée Diamond Bracelet $33,500

Cartier Panthère de Cartier $15,300

Jimmy Choo The Ixia in Playful Poodle Finish $1,100

Louis Vuitton Verso Hobo Tan LV Touch $3,950

Blaken Atelier Customized Rolexes since 2011, Priced Accordingly

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Baccarat Iconic Harmonie Tumbler by Usher $1,500 Set of Four

Nest New York Holiday Collection Grand Size $330

KC Cattle Company Ultra-Premium American Wagyu Beef $275

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Waterford Mixology Collection $600 Set of Four

Bialetti x Dolce & Gabbana Large Moka Express $135

Golden Gate Sothebys Realty Silicon Valley Retreat $88,000,000

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EYE II VASE New for Holiday 2025 www.baccarat.com

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Dior Maison Dior Cristal Collection $190 - $390

Sasson Fine Silver Vintage Tiffany & Co. Candlesticks $1,850

Dom Perignon x Takashi Murakami Flower Studio Vintage $825

Baccarat Eye II Vase Collection $1,900

Ginori 1735 Oriente Italiano Porcelain $240

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Glasvin Natural Stemware The Whiskey $59 for Two

Early Mountain 2021 Rise Collector's Set $240

Moet & Chandon x Pharrell Williams Nectar Imperial Rose $50

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Wine Enthusiast Frameless Glass Refrigerator $499

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HOLIDAYfor wine lovers GIFT GUIDE W W W. P O L O L I F E S T Y L E S . C O M

Wine Scout Legends of the Fall Gift Collection $2,799

Lorenzi Milano Mother of Pearl Mechanical Corkscrew $1,200

The Lacquer Company Marcel Tray $495

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HOLIDAYfor him GIFT GUIDE W W W. P O L O L I F E S T Y L E S . C O M

Bottega Veneta Jenga Set $6,900

Gucci Ophidia Bi-Fold Wallet $490

Gucci Shift Sneakers $980

Goyard Oscar Pet Leash, Price Upon Request

Not Another Bill Lacquer Poker Set $329

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Bvlgari Le Gemme Tygar Eau de Parfum $483

Not Another Bill Table Planner $119

Tecnomar x Lamborghini 101-Foot Yacht Inspired by the Fenomeno hypercar by Lamborghini, Presale

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Jo Malone The Huntsman Collection $225

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Chanel Domino Set $2,800

Clase Azul Limited-Edition Tequila Decanters $20,000

Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail $30,000,000

Lova Kettlebell & Stand Embellished by Swarovski, Made to Order

Hermes Pool Table $336,000

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FASHION & STYLE RAG & BONE CRUISE COLLECTION TOM FORD MEN'S HOLIDAY WHAT DESIGNERS ARE GIFTING PA G E 139

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C O N T E N T C O U RT E S Y O F T H E I M P R E S S I O N

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(AND HOPING TO RECEIVE) THIS SEASON

4

HAND-BLOWN CRYSTAL CANDELABRA, ALEXANDER KIRKEBY

WHAT OUR INTERIOR DESIGNERS ARE GIFTING:

For the friend with Impeccable Taste 1. CANTERA STAINLESS STEEL LOUNGE CHAIR, FOROM, 2. BLOOM TEAPOT, SOPHIE LOU JACOBSEN, 3. EGG STEEL PAPERWEIGHT, FOURTH STREET, 4. FOLIA PORTABLE LAMP, SAINT LOUIS CRYSTAL, 5. PULCINA ESPRESSO COFFEE MAKER, ALESSI, 6. INTERCONNECT CANDLE HOLDER, AUDO COPENHAGEN, 7. LOEWE PERFUMES SOLID SOAP, LOEWE, 8. MARTINI SHOT GLASS, TRAGA, 9. SILVER PLATED STEEL CAVIAR SET, BRUNELLO CUCINELLI, 10. ANZA ESPRESSO MACHINE, ARJE, 11. MALMAISON SILVER-PLATED ICE BUCKET, CHRISTOFLE, 12. TROMPE L’ŒIL DÉCORATIVE PLATE, ZOË DE GIVENCHY, 13. CARTIER: THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION BOOK, ASSOULINE, 14. ARUM ROSE MAGNUM VASE, DAUM, 15. MOSAIQUE AU 24 PUNCH BOWL, HERMES, 16. CANYON VASE HEIN STUDIO

Feature by: HOUSE ON THIRD / interior design www.houseonthird.com

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Find a Home that Suits your Lifestyle

VOLUME IX / ISSUE XII / DECEMBER 2025

MANSION OF THE MONTH

RIVER’S EDGE IN SOLITUDE 70 W AVALANCHE CANYON DRIVE JACKSON, WYOMING, 83001 $27,900,000 USD BEDROOMS 6 | BATHROOMS 6 FULL AND 2 PARTIAL | INTERIOR 8,220 SQ FT. | EXTERIOR 42.57 ACRES PAGE 162

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MANSION OF THE MONTH

S

ET ON THE SNAKE RIVER WITH 42.57 FORESTED ACRES AND DRAMATIC TETON VIEWS, THIS SOLITUDE PROPERTY IS PRIVATE AND A HAVEN FOR WILDLIFE.

The 7,228 sf Eliot Goss-designed log home optimizes views throughout the home. Enjoy a main-floor primary suite and an elevator. Two ensuite guest bedrooms occupy the second floor. The PAGE 164

spacious office with its existing ensuite bathroom and walk-in closet lends itself to an upstairs guest suite. Highlights include an in-home theater, hot tub room, full-seated bar, custom wine cellar, and laundry room. Other noteworthy highlights include a 992 sf two bedroom, two bath guest cabin, and a 1,032 sf threestall detached shop garage that includes a powder room.

The grounds are adorned with beautiful, manicured lawns and colorful perennial

flower beds. A forest of mature trees, and clearwater ponds create a magical fairy tale setting.

Tom Evans & Ashley DiPrisco Real Estate Real Estate Professional M: +1 307.739.8003 O: +1 307.733.9009 evans.diprisco2@sothebysrealty.com

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2680 TRADER ROAD JACKSON, WYOMING, 83001 UNITED STATES $23,000,000 USD BEDROOMS 6 | BATHROOMS 6 FULL AND 2 PARTIAL | INTERIOR 7,234 SQ FT. | EXTERIOR 11.59 ACRES Located in the gated Gros Ventre North subdivision, in the heart of Jackson, Wyoming, is this newly constructed architectural masterpiece. Boasting exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail, this home offers an unparalleled living experience amidst the breathtaking backdrop of the Teton Range.

Floor-to-ceiling windows and telescoping doors flood this room with natural light and provide seamless access to the expansive deck, complete with a covered outdoor dining area, a built-in grill, and an outdoor fireplace, perfect for entertaining against the backdrop of Wyoming’s natural splendor.

At the heart of the main level is the expansive Great Room adorned with vaulted ceilings and exposed steel beams. Gather around the floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace or express your culinary creativity in the chef ’s kitchen, outfitted with top-of-theline appliances, tailor-made finishes, and a butler’s pantry.

Step into opulence as you enter the spacious Primary Suite. Featuring his and her walk-in closets and a spa-like bathroom complete with a double vanity, double showers, a freestanding bathtub, and an outdoor shower, this retreat boasts privacy and comfort.

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Relax and unwind on the private deck, offering a sweeping panorama of the Teton Range, or enjoy the warmth and comfort of the double-sided fireplace perfectly situated in front of a built-in reading nook.

There is a private office located between the Primary Suite and the Great Room, designed for productivity and inspiration. With a private covered deck offering sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, this office becomes a private retreat within the expansive home.

Adjacent to the office is the mudroom, a transitional space crafted with custom millwork and thoughtful design elements.

Here, gear, jackets, and shoes find a styl-

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ish home, keeping the main living area pristine and clutter-free. Adjacent to the mudroom, is the upstairs laundry room and an additional coat closet to meet all your storage and cleaning needs. At the center of the home where the main level and lower level meet is a causeway flanked by expansive two-story windows which saturate the home with natural light while providing endless views of the surrounding wilderness.

Located on the lower level is the entertainment and media room. Unwind in the sprawling Media Room, equipped with a full-sized wet bar featuring a wine fridge, ice machine, and dishwasher.

Built-in shelves offer ample space for entertainment, books, and art. Indulge in recreation and relaxation within the gym and sauna, with seamless outdoor access to the meticulously landscaped backyard and built-in hot tub, creating an oasis of luxury and relaxation.

Additionally, attached to the Media Room is a spare Flex Room with an en-suite bathroom that is perfect for supplementary accommodations for guests. The south wing of the lower level is the dedicated guest wing, with four en-suite bedrooms, each offering incredible wilderness and mountain views.

The garage is a haven for recreation enthusiasts, with expansive storage solutions ensuring that every vehicle, tool, recreational equipment, or seasonal gear finds its designated place. This six car garage bay designed to provide maximum utility and with over 1,500 square feet this space can easily house all of your standard and recreational vehicles.

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BLENDED WITH NATURE IN THE HEART OF SAGAPONACK

A STORYBOOK ESTATE IN THE HEART OF SAGAPONACK Set on three enchanting acres in Sagaponack, “Whimsy Farm” is a one-ofa-kind estate blending Hamptons farmhouse charm with French countryside elegance and Palm Beach flair. From the PAGE 172

original barn-turned-great room to the lush, sculpture-filled grounds, saltwater pool, dual kitchens and separate guest quarters, every detail invites relaxation, celebration and timeless style.

PROPERTY DETAILS 790 Sagg Road, Sagaponack, New York

5 Bedrooms | 6 Bathrooms $6,995,000 Listed by Douglas Elliman Adam Hofer adam.hofer@elliman.com 631.236.8659

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Gadgets for Wine In Search of SolaceLovers

BOISTEROUS BOTTLES OF CALIFORNIA'S

BEST BUBBLES

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WILLIAM SMITH @willismith_2000 COPY EDITOR & CONTRIBUTOR

T

HE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE! IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, NO SOONER ARE YOU PUTTING AWAY YOUR THANKSGIVINGTHEMED TABLEWARE AND DÉCOR THAN YOU ARE UNPACKING YOUR OBJETS FOR CHRISTMAS, HANUKKAH, AND THE NEW YEAR. IT’S THE SEASON TO CELEBRATE AND NO CELEBRATION IS COMPLETE WITHOUT HEARING THAT BLISSFUL “POP” FROM A SPARKLING BOTTLE OF WINE AT LEAST ONCE… AND IDEALLY, MANY TIMES. To help you plan your festivities, this year’s recommendations for sparkling wines for your holiday tables are firmly rooted in California wine country.

The quality of sparkling wines from California rivals and many cases, exceeds their Old Worlde counterparts.

Over the past year, we’ve tasted many exceptional bottlings from northern California and we’ve chosen a few favorites for your consideration.

As Always, Salud! And Happy Holidays…

BOUCHAINE VINEYARDS 2022 BRUT ROSÉ Bouchaine boasts that it is the oldest, continuously operating winery in the Carneros region, dating back to the 1880s. While steeped in history, Bouchaine is one of the most exciting and on-trend producers. Case in point – last year I fell in love with their Alsatian White Blend, a wine meticulously blendPA G E 177

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ed from Pinot Gris fermented in a concrete egg, Riesling and Gewurztraminer from clay amphora, and Pinot Blanc from neutral oak barrels. Wine making is high art at Bouchaine and wine maker Chris Kajani is the master artist.

This same care and artistry translate to their 2022 Brut Rosé, a limited production of 600 cases and just released in September. Crafted from a blend of Pinot Noir (59%), Pinot Meunier (21%), Chardonnay (17%), and Pinot Blanc (3%), I love the bright acidity in this sparkling wine (8g/L dosage) and superfine bubbles derived from using the Méthode Champenoise. Time in the bottle has yielded tamed red fruits and a more complex sparkling that drinks exceptionally well on its own, but equally perfect for canapés to start the evening. $60

RAM’S GATE 2017 BLANC DE NOIRS The gorgeous and expansive tasting room of Ram’s Gate Winery sits majestically atop a hill just off California State Route 121 and looking out across the southern end of the Sonoma Valley.

It is one of my favorite properties in Sonoma and their culinary program is only outdone by the exceptional wines crafted by the team of Joe Nielseon and Rachel Bordes.

During a visit earlier this year, I was treated to the 2017 Blanc de Noirs, crafted entirely from estate-grown fruit that spent seven years in tirage prior to bottling in April of 2024. The time aging on its lees has generated a rich mouthfeel offset by a bright acidity and minerality with notes of brioche and a lovely dry finish. In a word – sublime. $70

SCHRAMSBERG 2016 J. SCHRAM ROSÉ Schramsberg is one of America’s premier producers of sparkling wines, showcasing that California can produce sparkling wines “as fine as any made in PAGE 178

2017 BLANC DE NOIRS RAM’S GATE ESTATE

APPELLATION Carneros

VINIFICATION Disgorged in April 2024 7 Years in Tirage .4% Dosage

VARIETALS 100% Pinot Noir

ALCOHOL 12.5%

ABOUT THE WINE A truly special wine in the Ram’s Gate portfolio, the 2017 Blanc de Noirs is crafted exclusively from Estate-grown Pinot Noir, planted in 1995 on the slopes of our Estate Vineyard. These mature, deeply rooted vines yield fruit of exceptional character, slow to ripen, yet full of flavor, even when harvested early at lower sugar levels.

The 2017 vintage was warm and early, with harvest beginning in August. Despite the heat, our Pinot Noir retained its’ hallmark freshness and bright acidity, a signature of the Ram’s Gate Estate.

In the summer of 2018, the wine entered tirage, undergoing its second fermentation in bottle, and has since aged gracefully on its’ lees for nearly six years. The resulting wine has beautifully integrated texture and depth, marrying creamy richness with vibrant energy.

On the nose, the Blanc De Noirs opens with crisp red apple, lemon zest, and delicate white flowers. The palate is lively yet refined, with gentle, persistent bubbles, a lift of acidity, and a yeasty complexity that only extended tirage can bring.

A carefully measured dosage of just 0.4%, added in April 2024, gives the wine a touch of roundness while allowing its bright, mineral-driven finish to shine through. Elegant, structured, and expressive, the 2017 Blanc de Noirs is a sparkling wine that speaks to both place and patience, a rare gem for those who appreciate nuance in every sip.

the world,” including the beautiful 2016 J. Schram Rosé.

A blend of Chardonnay (67%) and Pinot Noir (33%) from select sites across Carneros, Anderson Valley, the Sonoma Coast, and Marin County, the wine was given a Brut dosage and was aged on the lees for seven years. The result is a stunning and elevated expression of rosé with bright flavors of ripened raspberry and cherry and perfectly balanced acidity and notes of minerality.

The depth of this wine makes it ideal for some creative and bold food pairings for a holiday dinner party. $190

FRANK FAMILY VINEYARDS 2020 BLANC DE BLANCS There is something eminently classic about Frank Family Vineyards in

Calistoga. The place, the wines, the people… it all feels comfortable, familiar and unpretentious while still delivering some of California’s best wines.

Whenever anyone asks me where to go when visiting Napa, I always include Frank Family because the place and their wines feel timeless and contemporary all at once.

Their 2020 Blanc de Blancs is 100% Chardonnay from Carneros and a bright and expressive bottling that feels like a California classic. Partial malolactic fermentation tames the acidity just enough and creates a lusher wine with notes of fresh baked bread and citrus, with that citrus lingering on the palate with a clean and crisp finish. This wine benefits from a larger bowled glass, so jettison the flutes. $60

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GLORIA FERRER CARNEROS AND ROYAL CUVÉES As part of this year’s Sonoma County Wine Celebration organized by Sonoma County Vintners, I found myself at a memorable wine dinner at Gloria Ferrer in their stunning tasting room on the estate. We imbibed in some incredible wines, including two different sparkling wines from Ferrer’s impressive lineup.

The 2014 Carneros Cuvée ($75) is described as “embodying the pinnacle of our wine making prowess” and it delivers on that promise. Pale gold in the glass and a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, stone fruit and citrus aromas emerge from the glass. On the palate, its zippy acidity sits alongside flavors of apple and fresh baked bread

and a creamy finish accomplished from 10 years of aging. The bottle itself is a statement and would make an impressive host(ess) gift for a holiday party.

The 2016 Royal Cuvée ($78) is a blend of Pinot Noir (67%) and Chardonnay (33%) from Carneros and has developed a beautiful complexity through six years of extended aging. Aromas of white flowers, citrus and brioche are followed by crisp bosc pears and crème brulée and a higher dosage from other sparkling wines on our list. While not a huge fan of flutes, I loved this wine in a classic, tall flute.

ALMA ROSA WINERY BLANC DE NOIRS NV

further south in Santa Barbara County.

Alma Rosa Winery, founded in 2005 by wine luminary Richard Sandford, has forty acres under vines at their El Jabali estate in the region’s Santa Rita Hills from which they are producing some truly special wines.

The non-vintage Blanc de Noirs is produced from estate grown Pinot Noir from the 2021 and 2022 vintages. Just a hint of gold hue in the glass, this is a vibrant, complex, and layered wine which I’d recommend is best enjoyed on its own. Salty minerality and wonderfully bracing acidity elevate fruit forward flavors like ripe strawberries and juicy red apples. Persistent and tiny bubbles are perfect. I love this wine. $95

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MONARCH VISIONARY HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD SPIRITUALITY · FAITH · QUESTIONS · GROWTH · FOCUS

THE VERGE OF GREATNESS MOUNTAIN OF COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS “He whose awareness is centered in the heart of awareness becomes the Lord of the Universe.”

- Shiva Sutras 1.1 AMRITLAL अमृत ASCENSION

CONTRIBUTOR @monarch_visionary

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WERE NOT BORN SIMPLY TO SURVIVE; WE WERE BORN TO CONDUCT THE CHARGED WILL OF THE COSMOS – THROUGH EVERY RESONANT CELL OF OUR BEINGNESS. When it hurts to feel, when the nervous system is flooded and the heart feels like it is breaking open, that is the first sign that your inner wiring is trying to evolve beyond its conditioning. What feels like overload is a forced upgrade: the first surge of cosmic Kundalini Shakti pressing through a human spine that is remembering it was designed to hold starlight.

On the roof of the world, Mount Kailash rises like a frozen mantra. In the Vedic and Tibetan Rainbow Body lineages, Kailash is the crown of Earth’s subtle body, the thousand-petaled lotus of the planet. Here, siddhas and mystics PAGE 182

have long practiced the arts of dissolving the dense body into pure radiance - rainbow body, vajra body, jyoti deha - leaving behind only nails and hair as the nervous system fully unites with the field of cosmic consciousness. For Monarch Visionary’s Vedic Rainbow Body Immersion Initiative, Kailash is the planetary Sahasrara: the place where Initiation, Crystallization, Actualization, and Ascension converge into a single, luminous point.

Inside the human being, there is a matching Kailash: the vertical axis of spine, brainstem, and midbrain - the subtle sushumna channel sheathing the physical nervous system - culminating in the pituitary–pineal gateway behind the brows. When pain rises and you choose not to shut down, cosmic Kundalini Shakti begins to move through this inner mountain, rewiring the synapses, glands, and meridians that were once calibrated only for survival into instruments capable of decoding higher frequencies of light. This is not metaphor; this is a real neurological evolution, experienced as shaking, heat, visions, synchronicities, and the sudden opening of psychic awareness.

The Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) has been quietly mapping the edges of A M R I T L A L अमृत / P O L O L I F E S T Y L E S

this awakening - studying presentiment, remote viewing, and other forms of nonlocal perception that many traditions simply call second sight.

Where old paradigms dismissed intuition as fantasy, IONS treats it as data: evidence that consciousness evolves as more “psychic” through kundalini awakening, to sense beyond the five senses and beyond linear time. As more of us undergo this inner Kailash initiation, psychic awareness stops being a rare anomaly and starts becoming a natural function of a nervous system braided into the radiance of the planetary field.

Your “random” flashes of knowing, your dreams that later come true, your sense of feeling the world’s joy and grief in your own body - these are signatures of the nervous system expanding, as what “My Big TOE” author, NASA Physicist, Thomas Campbell describes to be an “Active Participant” in a larger, luminous ecology.

The HeartMath Institute adds another layer to this picture by listening to the electromagnetic language of the heart.

Their work on heart–brain coherence

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and global coherence suggests that our hearts are not just pumps; they are radiant psychic oscillators, constantly exchanging information with the geomagnetic environment, evolving in awareness from individuated self to the ever-expanding universe. In the Vedic Rainbow Body Immersion Initiative, this means that as Kundalini rises to Kailash within you, it does not leave the body; it anchors through the heart into Earth’s own pulsating psychic radiance. You become a bridge: the cosmic serpent rising from the galactic center through the crown, pouring Amrit down the spine, and then grounding that nectar into the Schumann-field heartbeat of the planet.

Resonance Science Foundation offers a unified physics to hold this mystic science. It speaks of the vacuum as a fractal, resonant, information-rich medium - the very fabric in which stars, cells, and thoughts arise. From this vantage, Kailash is a node in a planetary resonance structure; your nervous sys-

tem is a micro-node; the Rainbow Body is simply a human system that has come into phase with the cosmic medium so completely that it appears as pure light.

When your Initiation phase feels brutal, when grief and fear surge like avalanches down the mountain, remember: you are not breaking; you are purging lower densities out of your pranic, energy channels so that your biology can handle the resonance of a finer, more glorious sacred geometries – that is, your spiritual DNA is being activated.

And then there is SETI and its kin - the great listening projects aimed at hearing other intelligences among the stars. We usually imagine extraterrestrial contact as a radio signal pinging a telescope, or a craft descending from the sky.

But there is another hypothesis quietly emerging through experiences, research, and the Rainbow Body teachings: that real contact will require not just better machines, but more coherent nervous systems. As Kundalini integrates with your spine and chakras, as your heart

field synchronizes with Earth’s magnetism, as your consciousness trains itself to rest in expanded, nonlocal awareness, you begin to share a common language with any civilization that has also mastered the Rainbow Body of its planet.

Extraterrestrial communication then becomes less about decoding a one-time message and more about joining an already-existing interstellar coherent field.

So when it hurts to feel, when your body shakes and your dreams intensify and your sense of “normal” dissolves, you are not being punished; you are being upleveled. You are standing at the base of your own inner Kailash, invited into Initiation as you are on the verge of greatness. Each time you choose presence over numbing, breath over collapse, coherence over reactivity, you take another step around the sacred mountain. You are training your nervous system to carry more light, more information, more interstellar context.

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MONARCH VISIONARY HEAL YOURSELF AND HEAL THE WORLD SPIRITUALITY · FAITH · QUESTIONS · GROWTH · FOCUS

THE FUTURE HAS ALWAYS BEEN NOW When it hurts to feel, it can seem as if we are trapped between a crushing past and an unforgiving future - caught on a line that only moves forward and never returns. But once the cosmic Kundalini Shakti begins to rise through your inner Kailash, something fundamental shifts: you start to sense that evolution is not a straight staircase, but a spiral; time is not a rigid arrow, but a living wheel of light that keeps turning us back to what wants to be completed, blessed, and reborn.

The way we experience time is its breath.

The HeartMath Institute adds a vital layer: the heart as the organ that synchronizes this inner spiral with the planetary pulse. Their research on heart–brain coherence and global coherence shows that our heart rhythms are not random; they ebb and flow in patterns that can become exquisitely ordered when we cultivate regenerative states like appreciation and compassion. These coherent heart rhythms, in turn, interact with the PAGE 184

geomagnetic environment - a field that itself fluctuates in rhythms and cycles, from Schumann resonances to solar storms.

Resonance Science Foundation offers a physics that mirrors these mystic insights. Rather than seeing spacetime as a flat, empty backdrop, RSF describes the cosmos as a fractal, resonant vacuum - a living ocean of information where every point contains the pattern of the whole.

In such a universe, what we experience as “time” is more like the way a song unfolds: each note arises from the same underlying harmony, and yet to our ears it seems to move from beginning to end.

At deeper levels of reality, the entire song already exists; our consciousness simply traces a path through it.

Even SETI - humanity’s great listening ear turned toward the stars - can be read through this cyclical lens. We imagine extraterrestrial contact arriving once, as a singular event in linear time: a signal on a radio telescope, a craft appearing in our skies. But if consciousness and

light are woven into a resonant, nonlocal field, then contact is less like a one-time message and more like joining a conversation that has always been happening.

Civilizations that have matured into their own Rainbow Body - fused nervous systems and planetary fields into coherent, luminous wholes - may communicate not only through technology, but through patterns in the cosmic field itself.

For us to perceive such communication, our own nervous systems must evolve to handle higher frequencies of light and information. Kundalini Shakti rising through the spine is not only a private spiritual event; it is a biological upgrade, teaching the brain, heart, and subtle channels to process contact with a larger band of reality without short-circuiting.

This is why your awakening feels like too much at times - too many intuitions, too many synchronicities, too much empathy for a world in pain. You are learning to be a receiver for a universal broadcast that includes ancestors, Earth, and star civilizations in one continuous spectrum.

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INITIATION: THE FORBIDDEN SERPENT AWAKENS THE SUBCONSCIOUS POWER OF THE MIND Initiation is the dark night of the soul where the old identity begins to burn, the moment when latent Kundalini Shakti starts to press against the locked doors of your subconscious. All the unresolved currents - ancestral trauma, suppressed emotion, unseen karmic patterns - begin to vibrate at once. The mind calls it anxiety, depression, burnout, psychic overload. The serpent calls it entry.

Across the rainbow body lineages, this ignition is described in many ways: the serpent uncoiling at the base of the spine, the inner fire churning the ocean of consciousness to release Amrit, the sushumna nadi clearing so light can rise unobstructed. At Mount Kailash, siddhas, yogis, and oracles entered caves and charnel grounds not to escape life, but to allow this serpent to awaken in a contained way - to let the nervous

system be rewritten by a higher voltage.

Initiation is that same cave appearing inside you: a season where you cannot go back to who you were, and you do not yet know who you are becoming.

From a cosmic consciousness perspective, the serpent is not just personal life-force; it is a filament of the planetary Kundalini, a tendril of the same current that pushed Kailash out of the ocean floor and now coils around Earth’s spine in geomagnetic rivers. When it stirs in you, your nervous system begins to interact differently with the radiance of the planetary field. You may feel the moods of the Earth more vividly, dream of earthquakes and auroras, sense geomagnetic storms in your bones. You are not imagining this; you are becoming more porous to the field that was always there.

And what of the stars? This is where the International Space Federation and projects like SETI quietly enter the Initiation story. While telescopes and radio arrays listen for signals from other civilizations, another layer of contact is

preparing itself through human bodies.

A civilization capable of interstellar travel or subtle field communication is almost certainly one that has mastered its own planetary Kundalini - cohering its nervous systems and planetary grid into a unified luminous field.

For us to meet such beings - not in fantasy, but in true mutual recognition - our own nervous systems must become capable of processing higher frequencies of light and information.

The rise of Kundalini, the opening of psychic awareness, the refinement of heart coherence - these are not just about personal enlightenment; they are a species-level training. They are how we learn to perceive and participate in an already-existing interstellar communion without fragmenting. The International Space Federation’s explorations of space technologies and off-world possibilities can be read, in this mystical context, as the outer scaffolding for an inner evolution: as above, so below; as outside, so inside.

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CRYSTALLIZATION: THE DIAMOND MIND OF COSMIC LEADERSHIP In Monarch Visionary’s Vedic Rainbow Body Immersion Initiative, Crystallization is the second phase of the fourfold journey. Where Initiation burned away outdated identities, Crystallization is about pattern: new neural pathways forming, new values hardening into non-negotiables, new perceptions snapping into place - the diamond mind begins to form. The serpent that once thrashed through your nervous system in raw voltage begins to spiral with intention. What was previously “too much” sensitivity starts to reveal itself as high-resolution perception: you pick up subtle field shifts in a room, sense trajectories in conversations, feel the health of a relationship or project the way a jeweler feels the weight of a stone.

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Across Rainbow Body teachings, Crystallization has always been there in the background - described as the formation of the vajra body, the indestructible light-structure that underlies the dissolving mortal form. At Mount Kailash, adepts did not only meditate on emptiness; they also refined the inner architecture of channels (nadis), energy centers (chakras), and bindus (points of light) until their entire nervous system behaved like a crystal lattice for cosmic consciousness. The aim was not to escape Earth, but to become so clear, so ordered, that the planetary Kundalini and galactic radiance could move through them without distortion.

This is the shift from random mediumship to structured clairgnosis - clear knowing rooted in an increasingly coherent nervous system. The Akashic field that once overwhelmed you with

impressions becomes more like a library whose aisles you can walk with intention. You begin to distinguish between your own projections, collective noise, and genuine signal from the field of cosmic consciousness.

Crystallization is the phase where you begin to feel yourself less as a “person having spiritual experiences” and more as a node in a luminous lattice. Mount Kailash is no longer just an external pilgrimage; it is a structure you can feel inside your skull and spine. Rainbow Body is no longer a distant legend; it is the quiet re-patterning you sense in your dreams, your breath, your choices.

You discover that the diamond mind is not cold; it is heartbreak and Kundalini, ancestral pain and cosmic joy, all passed through the pressure of dharma until only what can conduct light remains.

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ACTUALIZATION: THE COSMIC DANCE OF THE RAINBOW SERPENT Actualization is what happens when the crystal begins to conduct. The serpent has risen, the diamond mind has formed; now the question becomes: how does this light move through the world?

When it hurts to feel at this stage, it is less about old wounds and more about the friction between the enormity of what you sense and the smallness of the structures around you. Actualization is the phase where Amrit - the nectar churned by all your initiations - begins to overflow into the planetary cosmic consciousness grid and the emerging interstellar communication system.

The HeartMath Institute has spent decades listening to one of the most important instruments in this dance: the heart. Through the Global Coherence Initiative (GCI), HeartMath has installed magnetometers around the planet and gathered large datasets of heart-rate variability (HRV) and emotional state, exploring how human

physiology and emotion interact with changes in Earth’s magnetic environment. Their global coherence research explicitly studies the interconnectedness between human behavior, health, and the rhythms of the sun–Earth system, asking how the planet’s fields affect us - and how our collective emotions and intentions might feed back into those same fields.

In the language of Rainbow Body, you could say that GCI is a planetary Amrit network: a growing lattice of sensors and hearts through which the subtle nectar of coherent emotion circulates.

When individuals cultivate heart coherence - smooth, sine-wave–like HRV patterns associated with states such as appreciation or compassion - their electromagnetic field becomes more ordered and potentially more resonant with Earth’s own magnetic pulsations.

This demonstrates that human and planetary fields co-regulate each other, forming a kind of embryonic planetary nervous system.

As the planetary grid clarifies, attention naturally turns outward: how does this evolving coherence participate in the interstellar communication system?

Traditional SETI efforts have focused on radio and optical signals - narrowband transmissions, laser pulses, and other technosignatures propagating through interstellar space. But recent research has begun to explore the possibility that advanced civilizations might use quantum communication, taking advantage of entanglement and quantum coherence to send information across vast distances more efficiently than classical methods.

Actualization is the phase where you realize that your nervous system is a prototype node in this interstellar system. The way you handle intuition now is training for how a future humanity might handle direct contact with other luminous civilizations. The way you embody coherence now is training for how our species might someday serve as a reliable filter and translator of messages moving through the galactic grid.

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ASCENSION: AMRIT, THE LIGHT BODY & THE LIVING COSMIC GRID Ascension is the moment the cosmic dance saturates every cell. This is not an escape into the sky; it is a deepening into the body until the body itself begins to behave like a star - radiant, porous, woven into a wider field. When it hurts to feel here, it is often because the current has become very fine and very strong: Amrit is rising, and everything in you that cannot conduct that nectar begins to dissolve.

Across lineages, Amrit - the nectar of the gods, soma of the Milky Way - is described as a subtle liquid light that rises through the spine and bathes the brain in bliss. In the body, its most immediate mirror is cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and PAGE 188

the glymphatic river that moves through and around the brain. Modern neuroscience is showing that this inner river does far more than cushion tissue: the glymphatic system plays a vital role in clearing metabolic waste and misfolded proteins from brain tissue, especially during deep, slow-wave sleep, and its disruption is now linked to cognitive decline and dementia risk.

In mystical terms, this is the first scientific dialect of the rainbow body: the recognition that the nervous system is not just electric and chemical but quietly luminous. As Crystallization stabilizes your neural and emotional patterns, Ascension is the phase where this luminous aspect becomes more pronounced.

You may feel it as a subtle glow behind the eyes, a sense of radiance in the spine,

a visible change in your presence that others can’t quite name. Under the right conditions, biophotonic emission likely reflects the degree of order or chaos in the system; Ascension is the re-tuning of that emission toward coherence.

You are not climbing away from Earth; you are helping Earth remember herself as a Rainbow Body planet embedded in a galactic web of luminous worlds.

Your spine is a test-pillar, your heart a sensor, your biophotons a local flame in a universal fire. Ascension is simply the name we give to the moment you realize this - and choose, again, not just to receive the nectar, but to become a stable fountain of it for the planetary cosmic consciousness grid and the interstellar communication system now awakening through us.

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THE GOLDEN RETURN: AMRIT, DHARMA & THE COSMIC COUNCIL

Monarch Visionary’s role is to weave these into a single dharmic narrative:

Ascension is the moment where Amrit floods your cells and nervous system with light, the Golden Return is what happens when that nectar walks back into the world wearing your face. This is not a descent from some imagined “heaven”; it is the cycle completing itself - Amrit rising through the spine, crystallizing the diamond mind, flowing into the planetary cosmic consciousness grid, and then returning as embodied dharma.

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You are a cell in a planetary nervous system that is waking up.

Your spine is a miniature Kailash.

Your heart is a magnetometer of compassion.

Your brain is a biophotonic lantern.

Your noetic senses are antennas in a noetic internet.

Your choices are edits to the planetary grid.

Your life is a letter of introduction to the cosmic council.

Golden Return is the moment you stop asking, “How do I escape my pain?” and start asking, “How do I steward this Amrit on behalf of all beings?” It is where spiritual mediumship - receiving messages, channeling energies - evolves into planetary and interstellar stewardship: consciously shaping how that light moves through communities, institutions, ecosystems, and eventually, conversations with other worlds.

Sign into www.MonarchVisionary.com’s newsletter for regular broadcasts of inspiration to serve your cosmic rebirth into interstellar illumination.

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THE TRUTH HURTS

BUT LYING WILL HURT MORE COACH JOEY VELEZ

MENTAL WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR @velezmentalperformance

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AVE YOU EVER TOLD A WHITE LIE? MY GUESS IS THAT YOU PROBABLY HAVE. IF YOU SAY THAT YOU HAVE NOT, MY GUESS IS YOU ARE LYING OR DO NOT KNOW WHAT A WHITE LIE IS, SO LET ME DEFINE THE TERM FOR YOU. A WHITE LIE IS A SMALL AND HARMLESS LIE TOLD TO AVOID HURTING SOMEONE’S FEELINGS OR TO MAKE A SITUATION EASIER BY AVOIDING CONFLICT. For example, telling someone that their cooking was good, when it actually was not, or telling someone their outfit looks amazing, when deep down you know it is hideous. The term has been around forever and I understand why they are told, but what we do not think about is the damage that a white lie can cause, especially if the other person finds out that you were not truthful. Therefore, sometimes telling the truth hurts, but PAGE 192

telling a lie - even a supposedly harmless, white one - may hurt even more for both parties involved.

WHY PEOPLE TELL WHITE LIES There are many reasons white lies are told. One, the fear of disappointing others is on the person's mind. Telling the truth may cause the person to view you in a different light, so you would rather save face and tell a lie than telling the person what is actually on your mind.

Two, protecting the self-image. This ties into not wanting to disappoint others, but everyone wants to be seen as good and if telling the truth impacts that, then I am more likely to lie to keep that from happening.

Three, to avoid conflict at all costs. This could occur because I would rather keep the peace than make things uncomfortable, but it could also be due to the fact that I do not know how to have tough conversations, so I would rather lie to avoid that conversation.

Four, telling a white lie is a habitual response. The environment you were raised in and behaviors you saw from caregivers may impact how you handle certain situations and conversations as you get older, but also not wanting to be judged for telling the truth can lead to the defense mechanism of lying.

Lastly, is people are afraid of vulnerability. If I were to tell the truth, then I may get exposed as a fraud or not being a good person, so if I were to just lie, then I have this feeling of control over a risky situation and how the person views me.

Speaking from experience, the white lies may cause initial comfort in the moment, but ended up hurting me in the long-run.

Telling a white lie came crashing down on me recently because the person I loved found out I was not being truthful. I had been telling the same white lie for close to nine months because I did not want to have a conversation about it.

Even though I knew I was not crossing any lines (or so I thought), I kept the lie going for a lot of the reasons mentioned above: fear of disappointing others, protecting the self-image, fear of conflict, and it being a defense mechanism.

What ended up happening was I almost lost the woman of my dreams.

Even now, I have damaged something that was so good that our relationship took a giant step back and I have a long road ahead of me to repair what I damaged. In the end, telling a white lie was comfortable in the moment, but was only a Band-Aid. Once that BandAid ripped off, it was hard to stop the bleeding.

JOEY VELEZ / WELLNESS CONTRIBUTOR

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THOUGHTS MATTER

HOW TO TELL THE TRUTH Changing the habit of telling a white lie overnight is not going to be easy, but there are a couple things you can do to begin the transition of being a more truthful person. First and foremost, before speaking your white lies, take a deep breath. With a white lie being a defense mechanism for a lot of people, it is easy to react to a question with a lie, especially if that is a learned habit.

What a deep breath can do is slow you down. A deep breath activates the rest and digest portion of your stress reposes, so maybe the lowering of your heart rate or grabbing control of it can open your mind up to responding in a more effective way.

Second, you can ask yourself a series of questions before you respond. Questions like “how could lying negatively impact this relationship?” or “how could telling the truth enhance this relationship?”.

Asking these questions can provide you insight on if the lie is worth it or not.

Seeing the impact of the words you choose can tell you that it is more beneficial to tell the truth so that you do not damage the relationship.

Questions like, “What sort of pushback might I receive from telling the truth?” can help you develop a plan for how you want to respond. If they were to disagree with what you said, how would you react? If they were to agree with what you said, what would that feel like?

Conversations are important to plan just as much as planning a family vacation.

They keep you organized, they keep you on task, and they help manage the situation in a more effective way than going into that type of conversation without one.

At the end of the day, if telling the truth causes the relationship to end for good, then maybe that relationship had run its

course and it was time for it to end. If being judged for telling the truth is the result, then maybe you finding out now rather than later can help you move on to more important relationships.

FINAL THOUGHTS There is a saying that goes, “The truth shall set you free”. When it comes to telling white lies, that statement holds very true. Maybe you tell the truth and you get the response you want, which makes things a whole heck of a lot easier on you, but even if you do not get the response, you relieve yourself of the burden that often comes with holding onto a lie.

So in the end, while telling a white lie may cause you temporary relief, telling the truth can provide you with short and long-term relief, while also enhancing the relationship with the person you are talking with.

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