Okay ? let?s look at the 20th century and the 20 centuries before that for our beliefs in pain and sacrifice, working hard and living not for the moment, but to get into heaven one of these days, after our full measure of suffering is completed.
Now, let?s consider what lots of us now believe about life, its purpose, and what we?re supposed to do to get to heaven ? especially since there is no hell (makes it easier, doesn?t it?).
We are here for joy. Plain and simple, that?s all there is. Learning and growing, sure ? in a joyful way. The staircase to heaven I see is Fun, Happiness, Joy and Bliss. One excellent affirmation is – My Life Is Effortless and Delightful. You don?t need to believe it ? just start saying it to yourself and watch what happens.
Okay ? now we?ve gotten that far. If that is true ? and I?m convinced the right way to live is to act as though it is ? then what should our lives be like?
One of my beliefs and life choices, based on the above tenets, is that we are Art. Here to be beautiful, express our creativity and our unique Selves, and to provide beauty, joy, good energy to the world. So we choose our clothes each morning from that perspective. Not to please a guy / partner / potential lover (though that would be fine as long as angsty need is not involved). Not to please our mothers or our religious leaders or ?them? ? whoever ?they? are.
But to be our best and most fun Selves every day. To lift our own spirits and the spirits of those who see us on the streets or in our cars, our colleagues, fellow shoppers, friends and family.
So you can figure out what that means for you. For me, it means comfy and elegant, even when casual. It means checking an outfit intuitively for congruence ? not using a set of perceived rules from the culture. Mixing colors and fabrics, throwing on a scarf or a vest or a hat ? whatever raises your personal spirits will raise the spirits of others. Taking a risk, trying something new, playing with clothes and boots and jewelry. It means not trying to disappear into the crowd, it means using sorrow as a way to joy if that?s where you are ? and definitely it means not trying to look like everyone else.
You are a unique creation and expression of the Universe ? there will never be another you. So Go for It! Play and Have Fun. You?ll find out later that?s the correct and only path!