The Joy of Knowing What Works

Oh the Little Slinky Spaghetti strap dresses, how they always catch my eye. Poised  like a beautiful peacock in the store window. I am drawn to these dresses. WHY? They never seem to flatter my curves in a way that make me feel, lets just say my best. I know I shouldn't my waste time and money on these dresses because I will never, ever, wear them in public.

Yet I am drawn in like a sheep to slaughter as I saunter down through the lanes of traffic at the mall.  I have to reconcile the fact that my body shape is not intended for a size 2 mini dress. I need to train my eyes to focus on garments of empowerment and not the items meant to adorn the athletic frame of Joanna Gaines.

This has been a hard lesson to learn, and practice, but once I embraced it, it allowed me to figure out what " Sparks Joy". Shopping can become a beautiful storybook moment in my mind or the reality of what actually makes me smile in my day-to-day existence.

Let’s be honest, these little lessons do not come about easily. I had been purchasing spaghetti strap dresses up until last year. I still have one calling to me from the back of the closet, which almost had four matching friends when I almost ran out and purchased more in different colors. 


The reality is every time I put it on, I immediately strip it back off, put it back on the hanger, until the next time I think my body, and personal comfort level, has magically changed from a pumpkin to a fashion model.  Magic is not real and I am only slapped in the face with the realization that this is what it is.

I enjoy the idea of me in these dresses, careful and youthful, but it turns out I’m a jeans and cotton tee kind of girl. And after years of personal reflection, I now scream , ITS OK TO BE ME CURVES, FLAWS,  AND ALL!

What do you love buying that doesn't suit you? Do you love shopping for these items and bringing them home to show off to your loved ones? Sometimes the fun is in the acquiring and that's where the value lies. 

If it’s hard for you to let go because of the money and the intention that was attached to the item just remember the fun you had while buying it.  If clutter has become a problem in your existence it might be time to take the skeletons out of the closet and try them on for size. 

We all  have many intentions in life but it’s the ones that we follow that are the most fulfilling. My intention of fitting into dresses that are not intended for my body type was nothing but a struggle and an uphill battle. The same might go for you when it comes to clothing, beauty supplies, household goods, cars, watches, jewelry or any other monetary possession.

Of the tens of millions of products in the world, only a fraction of a percent of them will be intended for me. Learn to drown out the hype of ads for holiday-shopping, gift-giving or any other expected clutter exchanging events. Learn to drown out all of those expectations and listen to what it is that You actually want and need.

Challenging? Yes.

Worth it? What do you think....