Carolyn's Simple Life After 50
Get Excited, Get Motivated, Live YOUR Simple Life
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.
Is this you? I get it.
And the good news there is a better way to start your day. Here are the details:)
Have I ever mentioned that I am stubborn?
Surprised?
Let me explain…
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 ]
Take life slowly
And
Be happy on your journey.
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.
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
They can come at all price points.
First, let me speak about the,,,
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 :
Undies come in all
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.
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:
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
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.
I get asked all the time…
ALL THE TIME
Don’t you get boarded wearing your uniform.
I get it. A uniform is not for everyone.
[ I will be discussing this very topic & an alternative idea for you in the coming weeks ].
There are several things that I do/ wear that make wearing a uniform interesting.
I speak about these in this video
For those of us who reside in these 50 states I bet you are expecting a “Happy Thanksgiving” from me.
Well that and something else. I have equally important message:
Beware of the MARKETING.
Hey I don’t want to appear to be a killjoy but this time of year you really need to pay attention to—->
The MARKETING.
Yes, tis the season be be bombarded with
Those black Fridays must haves.
The MARKETING
Before you hit that buy button or hand over your hard earned cash at a brick and mortar store I suggest you ask yourself the following questions.
Am I buying just to buy?
Hey I get it.
This is the time of year to give or so we have been told.
But remember all gifts do not have to come with a price tag. If you did not catch my video last week here are some of my holiday gift giving ideas.
The MARKETING is all around us.
My request to you is just to aware.
So there, I have said it.
Go forth my dear reader, have a wonderful week and beware of the MARKETING.
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
It helps me make decisions easier.
And
I can find “my stuff” easier. There is no need to search for:
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:
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.
Funny thing is—>
as we continue our travels [ thorough life ]
our skin seems to play tricks on us.
The
Have you found this to be true?
Sadly we all seem to take these changes as being negative.
Whoa…
Hold on….
Not true.
You just need to make some itsy, bitsy, amendments, not only to
our view of this very subject but to our routines, habits, the products
we use and the biggie, our mindsets.
And
This is the very topic of discussion this week on my YouTube channel.
I have some new products that I am using, a review on a neck lotion
and potion and other ideas.
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 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.
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.
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
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
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.
I did not wake up one morning and decided to live a Simple Life. The process evolved and this journey continues daily.
And
Given the chance, I have learned, we all can learn from each other. We all can learn to lead a quiet, peaceful, meaningful life.
And
This was my lesson. My hopes are you, after you watch this video, too can look at things a “wee” bit differently.
In the early 1990’s , five years after the communist leader was executed, I spent a year in Bucharest, Romania.
Here is what I learned.