My daughter graduated recently from college. It was a hallmark event in her life. Alton Brown, famed author and food critic was the commencement speaker. He offered his thoughts in a non-traditional manner to challenge the graduates.
Thought provoking as it was, there was one key point I wanted to talk about. “ Stuff!”
He challenged the graduates with regard to collecting “stuff”. Stuff is the trappings of life. “Things” in life we feel we can’t live without – cellphones, ipods, fancy cars, shoes, leather, fur, diamonds, etc.
It’s not that you shouldn’t have “stuff” or even that you don’t deserve stuff, but “stuff” isn’t what makes us happy!
He next asked who was in debt. A full 2/3 of the audience raised their hands! Do you think that it is because they have already acquired “stuff” in their lives?
I think as a parent, we may have done our children a disservice by giving them so much “stuff” already. I know that I’m a bit guilty of that.Even though my children have always worked, they have never known what it feels like to truly “need” something.
As Americans, we have helped build a booming business in third world countries because they are reselling all of our “stuff”. On some level this makes me happy, but honestly do we really need so much “stuff”?
My childhood best friend lost her home in a fire recently and she has lost all her “stuff“. I would bet you anything that the only real loss that she feels right now are the photos of her children that act as reminders of their younger days. That’s the “stuff” happiness is made of.
What, you might ask does this have to do with clothes? I’d say A LOT! I starts with a little bit of “retail therapy” then morphs into other things.
The older I get the less “stuff” I want. I do love some of my things as they make me happy-my ipod with music on when I walk and I really like my bread machine! But as Coco Chanel said, and I am really trying hard to abide with “less is more” and it’s not because of the economy either!
Each season I encourage my clients to clean out the clutter and rid themselves of some of their things that no longer work in their closet. So as you part with some of your “stuff” ask yourself why you are getting rid of it. It’s not really “retail therapy” if it doesn’t look good on you, make you feel your very best and feel really great next to your body!
If you want to “shop your closet” join me on my next webinar and learn how. Register Here
“Look Good, Feel Great and Have Fun Doing It”
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