Have you ever gotten out of bed in the morning, headed over to your closet and it is full to the brim with “stuff”? And these words float through the air…
I don’t have a thing to wear!
In addition
If all you see is a closet full of clothing, all colors, shapes, sizes.
Recently I was stopped at a red light [ in my car!!]. Apparently, I did not engage the gas pedal quick enough and the driver behind me let out a big, loud ole honk of his car horn.
This is where my stubborn self takes over.
I go slow.
I mean…
What is the rush?
My theory in this instance is I prefer to be a few minutes late at my destination than not arrive at all.
Anyway,
This mindset can be applied to so many areas of your life.
First off—
Never, ever let someone push your buttons [ or gas pedal ]
Today, in this video, I want to dive into the topic of undies.
And
I have a challenge for you at the end of this episode so stick around until the end.
Undies
You know—->
Underwear, lingerie , bras, panties – knickers if you are across the pond.
The Great Underwear Challenge
First off I am going to be referencing bras and panties. But this concept includes all lingerie, slips, camisoles, body suites, garter belts- all intimate apparel.- the lot.
There are bras and panties that come in all
fits
colors
fabrics- silk. polyester, cotton
They can come at all price points.
First, let me speak about the,,,
Fit
There are bras with what we would call the normal straps and fits PICTURE and then there are those that adjust to the outer clothing that you are wearing.
There are bras that have that underwire piece that lifts and supports you in that quite frankly can be quite annoying.
Then There are panties that come in all shapes and sizes including :
Boxer types
High rise briefs
Regular briefs
Cheeks types and for the brave things… although to me they are also very uncomfortable.
Undies come in all
Colors
For me this is a range of colors. As you know. In my SImple Life there are a limited number of items but in terms of colors this includes, black, white,neutral and I go against my trend with red, and neutral. Oh and yes a blue sports bra.
Fabrics
Here is where , in my opinion, this all gets interesting.
You can go to a big box store and purchase bags of undies in cotton and cotton blends. IMAGES. Buy 3 get one free, buy one get one free….
And then there is the satins, silks, the laces and other finery.
WIth the cotton and cotton blend you can typically wash in a machine.
With the finer pieces you can still wash in a machine on a gentle cycle – I USE THIS. or you can wash by hand. It is a toss up with me.
Underwear has many roles, in most cases to keep our bits and pieces in check. They also keep you clean and tidy.
The challenge I offer you comes in two parts:
Part One
How much do you really need?
You can only wear one pair of undies and one bra at a time.
How many colors do you really need?
How many styles?
So now…
Go through and get rid of those items that do not fit, you have not worn in a while, those that are worn, those that you do not like.
Get rid of your granny pants and bras
Part Two
Take a new perspective. on your inner wardrobe.
We tend to think that our outer clothing is what really matters- you know, how you present yourself to the world..
However…
How would you feel wearing something more feminine? Something that would make you feel “appealing “ and I am not saying to someone else but to yourself.
But I challenge you to take a new perspective and start looking at your undies. Start wearing
the items that make you feel good, make you feel filled with confidence. As I have tried to
impress on you – in order to live a Simple Life you should surround yourself with the things that you love… and that starts my friend with what you put on under your uniform, your underwear.
If you have been watching me on YouTube you will know that my home is somewhat under construction.
…
now that is a laugh, it is COMPLETELY under construction.
I must admit I have dust and bits of paint where I never dreamed possible!!
Anyway
There is one thing I know for sure.
Living with this mess is possible because I put things back in their place [ whenever I can ].
And
This is one of the guidelines to living a Simple Life:
A place for everything and everything in its place.
[ I bet if you close your eyes you can hear those words being told to you as a child. RIght?]
Practicing this strategy has kept this process of renovation manageable. It makes living a Simple Life achievable.
I have lived this way for many years and found that this concept, this simple action
keeps my head clear
keeps me calm
keeps the overwhelm at bay
It helps me make decisions easier.
And
I can find “my stuff” easier. There is no need to search for:
the holiday wrapping paper
the screw driver when it is needed
the charger for my phone.
Putting things back, in the place that you have decided they belong, is such an easy practice. It keeps life simple, and hey isn’t this what we all are looking to achieve—> A Simple Life:)
Have you ever had a nagging feeling in the pit of your stomach? You simply know you need a break from the day in and day out of your life
Heck with covid who doesn’t feel that way!
Sometimes you just need to breathe “different air” to gain a new perspective, a sort of freshening up of the cobwebs in between your two ears, and see life differently from a changed vantage point.
This was me this week.
Let me fill you in—>
I am having some work done in my home which, well I won’t bore you with it but it was either
1-Stay at home and start to drink heavily [ which I don’t do, never have done but… well… the idea has crossed over into my mind on several occasions recently ]
Or
2-Get out of dodge.
I chose the latter.
Miss Evie and I are in southwest Florida.
“We”, sounds weird I know, as I include my 12- pound chihuahua as a part of the “we”, but well, gotta tell it like it is.
“We” are staying in Naples where:
The air is still hot
The humidity is still “off the charts”
The sun is “ a shinin” and the sky a blue I cannot put into words [ magnificent ]
I hope to send you a video and put some pictures on my instagram account.
As you can see I have brought my laptop to do a bit of correspondence with you.
And
To
Consider some changes I need to make- more about those changes in an upcoming video on YouTube.
So
The sounding suggestion that I offer to you is that when you get all caught up, stressed and overwhelmed with your life
Take that break or do something different
Interrupt the pattern of your everyday life.
There is a a sign in the lobby of the hotel that “we” are staying that says it all
“When life gives you lemons it is time to refresh yourself”.
Honestly, this works!
If you make that shift hit that reply button and let “ us “ know.
I recently posted a video about the time I spent in Romania. I received many requests for more of those adventures and so today I have another story for you.
Let me set the scene – even before heading off to eastern Europe.
I love lipsticks.
But at one point it my life they were an obsession. I had a lot of lipstick. Tons. Bags full.
And
They were not only drugstore brands, oh no, I had to spend enough money on a single lipstick, enough to feed a family an evening meal.
I would buy a new lippie if
I was happy
I was sad
I thought that magically I would look like one of those “ children” in Vogue magazine.
I loved the feel of them on my lips.
I loved the color of them
I loved the smell of them
I loved how they made me feel when I put them on and when I took them out in a public arena and put them on.
I was the poster child for lipstick obsessions.
And then my journey started, the journey that eventually, thankfully let me see that I could lead a perfectly lovely life, a Simple Life, with less of everything, including my beloved lipsticks.
As I stated in my previous video, I lived just shy of year in Bucharest Romania. This experience was probably, next to my caregiving role, one of the best in my life. I learned so much.
Funny, someone recently asked me did I learn this lesson while in Romania. I did not, it was only when I came back to this side of the Atlantic did the impressions start to filter into my thoughts and mind.
One day, I was sitting in our apartment. Chebaro had gone out to work.
I was alone
I was bored.
So I thought to myself, let me have a look at my lipsticks. I then went through each of the lipsticks, checking each one out and deciding if I was going to keep or get rid of a few.
Soon I had a plastic bag of lippies that I thought I had no more use for.
Then, in order to get some fresh air I thought let me take them down to the garbage area and toss them away. This is exactly what I did. Down I went the 4 flights of stairs [ no elevator in this building – good exercise ! ]
The dumpster was right next to the area where the local people were able to collect their milk.
This is where the locals received their milk and the site of my lipstick lesson.
With one swoosh the bag was in the rubbish area. Finishing that task I headed back home.
A few hours later I headed out. This time my driver took me to swim at a hotel.
As we passed that area, the one next to the milk drop where I discarded my unwanted lipstick I noticed that the bag that I had used was sitting on the ground. I asked my driver to stop so I could have a gander…
The lipsticks that were of no value to me, the used lipsticks, were all gone. Taken by someone or several people that saw value in what I simply threw away.
And even then it hit me
I had no regard for money.
I had no regard for my time and the time it took to make that money.
I had no regard for the excess that I had accumulated
I had no regard or understanding that to the local Romanias what I had simply through away was gold dust. To them it had value.
They could neither buy or afford those lipsticks They also could not even source them.They had more important things to do with their money- like feed and clothe themselves.
So my question to you today is
Do you value what you own?
Do you buy just for the sake of buying- of getting?
Does it all come too easy for you?
Do you live with excess?
It might not be lipsticks, or even makeup, maybe it is clothing, maybe it is eating out all the time, maybe you have several family cars and you could eliminate one or more?
I am NOT saying do without.
I am NOT saying living a Simple Life means being frugal or cheap. Quite the opposite. I am suggesting that you become aware of what is around you, what is taking up your space- both the physical and head space. Become away what you are spending time and energy on.