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"That's not a good color for you," Pat said.
"Really?" I asked feeling disappointed.
I tried the same coat on in red. Pat liked it, but I
thought it was overpowering. I tried it in blue, but I
didn't like the way that one looked either.
I tried different styles in colors that were "me" - boring,
neutral colors like tan, blue, or green.
But I wanted a change. My eyes kept going back to the
orange coat. I tried it on a second time. Then a third
time. I carried it around the store as I tried to make up
my mind.
Finally, against my trusted, fashion advisor's better
judgment, I bought the orange coat. I loved it! I felt
good wearing it, and not just because it was warm. It made
me feel daring, and different. It made me feel like I
could take another fashion chance.
So I did. I bought a hat. Not a sensible knit cap that
would keep my ears warm on frosty winter days, but a black
felt hat, with a wide brim, and a satin ribbon around the
crown. The kind that would fly off my head with the first
gust of wind and have me chasing it across a parking lot.
My hat purchasing experience was similar to my coat
experience. Except this time I went alone. I drove to
Filene's at the Maine Mall and tried on a dozen hats. With
each hat that I plopped onto my head, my disappointment
grew. Hats just didn't look good on me. I was about to
give up when a cute black felt hat caught my eye. I placed
it on my head and walked to the mirror.
"Hmmmm," I said to myself. "Not bad."
I looked at my reflection from several angles. I liked it.
But still, I wasn't sure. It wasn't what I originally had
in mind. I held on to it while I tried on several more
hats. I didn't like any of them.
I tried on the black felt hat again. I looked at my
reflection from several angles. I checked the price
tag--$27. UGH. That was a lot of money for a hat I wasn't
sure I would have the courage to wear in public.
I walked around Filene's pretending to shop. At every
mirror I stopped, put on the hat, and stared at my
reflection. I really liked it. But did I dare buy it?
I considered my options. If I bought the hat and never
wore it, I would be out $27. If I put the hat back, went
home to think about it, and returned to purchase it later,
I might not find it again. If I didn't buy it, I might
always wish that I had. So I wrote out a check to Filenes
for $28.35.
The store clerk put my precious hat in a plastic bag and I
carried it out to my car. Once settled in the driver's
seat, I took it from the bag, cut the plastic price tag off
with my teeth, and placed it on my head.
I wore it to the grocery store. At first it was really
strange. I am not a hat person. I am not a fashionable
person. But I wore it.
People noticed it! At work, in the grocery store, at my
Toastmasters meetings, people noticed my hat. They called
it "stunning," "great," and "becoming." I started feeling
happy everytime I put my hat on. I know that sounds silly,
but for most of my life I have felt invisible. My new hat
was getting people to see me.
I dared to wear something that few women wear anymore. I
dared to carry myself more confidently. I dared to do
something just for me just because it was something I
wanted.
In the two months that I've had my new hat, many women have
said to me, "But I don't look good in a hat, you do." I
laugh, because I know the truth. I only look good in this
hat because I have the courage and the attitude to wear it.
Two months ago I dared to be different. I challenge you to
be different too. The next time you go to the department
store and some piece of clothing or jewelry catches your
eye, take a chance on yourself and buy it. Then wear it.
Wear it with light-hearted, "I'm going to have fun wearing
this" attitude. Relax and enjoy the comments on your
smiley-face tie, purple socks, or 10-karat cubic zirconia
ring. Wear these items with panache and style. Hold your
head high and celebrate your courage to be different.
Two months ago I paid a $27.00 for a new hat. My initial
reaction was that it was too expensive. I didn't know then
that the price included a new attitude.
~~~
Copyright 2003 by Donna Doyon. All rights reserved. You are free to
use material from the A Swan's Song eZine in whole or in part,
as long as you include complete attribution, including live web
site link. Please also notify me where the material will appear.
The attribution should read:
"By Donna Doyon. Please visit Donna's
web site at http://www.donnadoyon.com for additional stories and articles on improving relationships with yourself, your family and the other people in your world."
"Carefree Woman" artwork by Ann Boyajian
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