Doreen Dove
Changes are inevitable. Time stands still for no one. As time changes, so do circumstances. In any given year we may have career changes, family changes, weight changes, responsibility changes and even personal preference changes.
Often times clients seek me out because something has changed, and they feel like they are left a little bit behind the eight ball. They don’t know where to begin to update the things that have been pushed aside as a result of the fact that there are still only 24 hours in a day.
Challenges that can pop up in a flash include:
- Weight loss or weight gain resulting in a closet full of nothing to wear.
- Financial changes where suddenly your clothing is not included in the family budget anymore.
- Job changes where perhaps you received a promotion from a very casual environment to a more corporate dress code.
- Family dynamic changes where you find you have taken on a new role in the sandwich generation and free time is a thing of the past.
That has been the change for me. I have been very lucky that my parents, now 85 and 87, have been, for the most part, pretty independent and living just a 2-hour drive from me. 2017 brought some pretty major health changes for both of them simultaneously, and with the death of my brother 26 years ago tomorrow, I am the sole caretaker.
I have witnessed firsthand what multitasking every hour of every day can do to my household, my business and even my health. Being an A-type personality, I always had to make sure every single thing was finished before I laid my weary head on the pillow but I’m here to tell you, sometimes you have just got to loosen the reigns a bit and let it go.
However, as I often say, life is challenging but we have to get dressed!
Subsequently, we need to make sure that our wardrobe is going to be a well-supplied toolkit that will serve us well when we need to fix our family’s health, work on our own bodies, deal with financial challenges or even just handle transitions in the work environment.
So, step back for a moment and take a look at what has changed for you or what may be about to change and get yourself rocked and ready. As Audrey Hepburn once said, “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.”
I stayed strong, focused, resilient and of course well dressed (meaning I was warm, comfortable and ready to turn on a dime). Everyone is feeling well and both old and new routines are now in place.
With that said, when it comes to you, we are in the middle of a change of seasons where you may be realizing that much of your winter garb is worn-out or wasn’t serving you well for the past four months. Now is the time to make a list by category of what you might be looking for while everything is on sale. In another two months, your winter wardrobe is going to be packed away and you’ll be pulling out your spring goods. That is also a great time to assess what you’re bringing out and decide whether, amidst your busy life, your spring wardrobe is going to make life easier or more complicated for you on a day-to-day basis.
With everything that you have on your plate, the last question you should be asking yourself is, “What am I going to wear tomorrow?”
Let’s make sure we’re prepared for all of our weekly tasks whether it’s meetings, appointments, networking, eldercare, medical visits, school functions or even that long awaited vacation that may be on the horizon.
Now is the time to get ready for the future, even if it is only one article of clothing or one pair of shoes at a time.
Life is full of changes; your wardrobe needs to keep up! As always if you need help, raise your hand!