Style Beyond Measure

I’ve discovered a nice secret that I want to share with you.

Lately, I’ve been actively “thanking” my body for all the good things its done for me.

Good things, such as being able to focus my mind which enables me to tackle stressful situations and handle them successfully; having the ability to hear and see and smell and taste all kinds of delightful things; to feel the softness of my daughter’s cheek; to stand, kneel, bend, sway, dance, and even stomp(!), as the moment dictates.

Sounds silly, I know. But, as I have begun to appreciate my body in a very literal sense, my body has begun to return my “thanks” by slimming down a bit!

Wow! How cool is that?!?

Is this a fluke? I don’t know. But I share this in hopes that if you experiment with it, you too, will experience some type of wonderful gift of gratitude back from your body.

Here’s how it began… One morning, I was getting ready for my shower, and as I dropped my robe, I caught sight of myself in the mirror. Amazingly, my first reaction was almost that of a separate observer - an admiring observer.

“Whoa! You look good!”, my observer self said.

This initial reaction shocked me in more ways than one…a) because my normal behavior is to cast a pretty critical eye over my body, certainly not one of appreciation; and b) it was true - my body did look good. Not supermodel thin and buff; but more curvy, lush and full - a woman’s figure. Not bad at all for someone my age who’s had two children!

The next morning, the same thing happened again…I looked in the mirror and liked what I saw! Amazing! (Oh Vanity, thy name is “me”!).

Right then and there, I mentally “thanked” my body for looking so good.

From that moment on, it became a fun little game I played each day. “Good Morning, Gorgeous!” And even if my tummy appeared a little more full, or my derriere sloped ever downward; I would concentrate on what did look good, like “the girls”, or my shoulders, or my neck, or my eyes. You get the idea…

It became a fun flirtation and one that got my day off to a good start. Getting dressed for the office didn’t seem to be quite such a chore. And, I also called and made appointments for that long overdue haircut and pedicure.

“Ain’t no big thing”, you might say. But, when everything else seems a bit overwhelming…work, homelife, parenting…then sometimes our commitment to nurturing ourselves goes on the backburner, and then guess who ends up losing out? Yep, that gorgeous part of ourselves that keeps our self-esteem robust and healthy.

So, I’ve become a big fan of appreciating my body these past few months and good things have begun to happen - like the surprise of slimming down - all without much effort or stress on my part. Again, “How cool is that?!?”

I’ll share more with you tomorrow.

And in the meantime, please try my little experiment when you look in the mirror today. Enjoy some mild flirtation with your biggest admirer - yourself ! I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised…

It goes without saying that March is a great time to shop the abundance of sales going on right now in retail stores, catalogues and on the internet.

And if you decide to take advantage, by all means take these two pieces of advice along with you as you shop…buy what you need, buy what you love.

By that, I mean be a savvy shopper and look for items that will round out your “end of winter” wardrobe right now – i.e. anything that your wardrobe is lacking that you will still need to get through another month of chilly weather. Perhaps it’s more sweaters, a quilted vest, long sleeve tee shirts, or another pair of gloves?

If you loved a particular turtleneck you purchased from a catalogue this past fall, chances are really good that you can pick up another one (or two!) at a reduced price now. Buy one in the color you currently have (as a ready-to-go replacement for next Winter) and then splurge on the yummy color you passed up two months ago in consideration of your wallet. See? Good things do come to those who wait!

This strategy is the “buying what you need” part and is a smart way to continue to build upon your basic wardrobe without having to start from scratch each season. Remember, if you loved the way this season’s turtleneck looked and fit you; then you’ll be glad to have another one for next winter and not have to start the search all over again.

The second strategy is “buying what you love” and it means just that…buying what you really LOVE. If there was a pair of outrageously gorgeous shoes that you drooled over in October, but they had an outrageous price tag to go along with it, then in the name of true love and soul fulfillment, re-visit the scene and see if by chance (“Oh, I hope, I hope, I hope” with eyes squeezed shut!) they have been marked down and they still have your size. This is especially do-able for catalogues and Internet sites.

Who knows? True love may rule the day and you’ll find those shoes are still there waiting for you in the perfect size and perfect price! Bottom line: it’s always worth another try if you loved it and missed it the first time around.

The one thing you don’t want to take along on your sale-shopping expedition is the “It’ll Do” mindset. (If you’ve forgotten or aren’t familiar with “It’ll Do”, check it out in my “Pages” section of this blog…“The Curse of It’ll Do”).

“It’ll Do” is particularly insidious during sale periods. All those lovely markdown racks are enticing you to spend, spend, and spend on stuff that you don’t really want or need. Succumbing to their siren’s call will only deplete your cash and begin to clog up your closet with clothing that doesn’t inspire or excite you.

It’s a much better strategy for your wallet and your peace of mind to save your money for that really wonderful item you know is just ahead on the horizon that will beckon you with a true soul calling - something that you will LOVE to wear, will look great on you and garner lots of great compliments.

Remember – buying what you need and what you love is one of the best ways to begin to create the “Closet of your “Dreams”.

In the meantime, just keep chanting this mantra as you walk through the maze of this month’s sale racks, “If I didn’t need it and/or love it three months ago, why do I need it now?”

By adhering to these strategies, chances are good you will move through this potentially threatening territory relatively unscathed and feeling a little richer, and a little more fashion savvy going into 2007.

Sorry to have been “Missing In Action” of late. I’ve been knee deep in a work project and have finally had a chance to come up for air.

Funny how we can promise ourselves to keep an even perspective when life gets too busy. But when push comes to shove, we settle down to what will get us by for the moment. And often the nurturing gestures we need most - creative expression, good food, quiet time, a warm bath - get shoved out of the way for what feels like pure and simple survival.

Luckily, once the pressure comes off, beautiful Perspective re-enters our life, and all seems doable again. The Sun comes out of the shadows and begins to warm those creative “coals” in our core being. Life is good and full of possibility again. Hallelujah!

So here’s to that occasional bout of being MIA. May her visits be few and short-lived; yet, with her every retreat leave us more joyful, purposeful and confident of our path.

I’m glad to be back.