"I don't have anything to wear!" Have you ever said that or heard someone say that? My husband has caught me expressing those words on repeat. Sometimes with exasperation.
On one occasion, my husband went into my closet, pointed to a top, and asked, "What about this?" I responded with, "That's too dressy." Or "That's too much for tonight." Another time I murmured the same statement, and my husband probed with another series of familiar questions. And again, I replied that I didn't think this outing warranted such a fancy outfit.
Or how about the time my kids inquired why we didn't use the dishes in our china closet. I responded, "I'm saving those for a special gathering." When my daughter was younger, she would inspect my jewelry box and question why I never wore certain pieces. Again, my answer was it's too extravagant for everyday wear.
Why do we tend to save things for the "right time" or "perfect event"? Why don't we use what we have now? We buy those items to use, so why don't we utilize them? Sadly, I have dresses in my closet that still have price tags on them because I plan to wear them one day when the ideal party comes up. I'm preparing for it even though I don't know when it will happen, but I'm banking it will.
How about those dishes that have yet to see anything inside of them? Ones that I'm afraid to break? Why won't I use them for more than just collecting dust? Why can't my family enjoy dining with expensive dinnerware? They're worth it.
My sister, who also owns plenty of fine china, has a different approach and uses everything formal every day. She believes there's no need to wait for a special occasion because every day is special.
When Covid's initial lockdowns started, I read an article where a few women changed out of their everyday loungewear and wore their fanciest dresses to their zoom call meetings. They didn't care to have their beautiful dresses only adorned by the other dresses in the closet but by actual people who would appreciate them. They dolled up in their best makeup and hopped on to their zoom calls for all to admire. They said it made others smile, which in return made them happier.
My mom, a fashion designer back in the day, is always dressed to the nines. My sisters and I give specific instructions to our mom to dress more casually when the events call for it, but more often than not, she displays a runway outfit. And why shouldn't she? She doesn't care what others think and dresses up for herself.
My oldest son says pretty much every other day, "We have to celebrate." When I ask him what for, sometimes he will provide a valid reason like it's someone's birthday or for a successful accomplishment, but other times, he will give a simple excuse, such as "It's Monday."
Let's learn the lesson from my son and honor every day. We should be like my sister, use the valuable dishes, and not worry if they chip or break. Model ourselves like my mom, and wear lavish outfits and ornate jewelry for our pleasure. Don't just save what you have, enjoy it too!
"Never save the best for later; you don't know what tomorrow holds." ~Paulo Coelho
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