This last shopping weekend before Christmas, the sales are in full-force and the 2-for-1 sweaters are calling my name. That’s why I’m thankful that my sister-in-arms, Vivienne McMaster is here to help me stay on target with our pledge to go one year without buying any clothes. You may remember Vivienne from her beautiful photography in The Richness of This Present Moment one of our Monday Guest Posts. She’s here now to tell you some of the reasons why this woman with an aesthetic eye has chosen to shop out of her closet for an entire year.

My Year without Clothes
by Vivienne McMaster

Each morning I get up and adorn myself with pretty things.  It has always been this way, this outward expression of my emotions, joy, subconscious, and creativity.  What I wear has always felt like walking art to me.  Whether it is simple or fancy, it always feels like it’s a big part of telling my story.

So when I heard about Rachelle’s ‘A Year without Clothes’ I was surprised at how much I wanted to take part.  Did I really want to shake up a part of me that I take so much joy in?  Truth be told, yes.

I wanted to find out what would happen if I did take part.  I wanted to know clearing that action from my life might make room for.   I wanted to assess what goodness I already have and to appreciate it.  I want to work hard to push past living from paycheck to paycheck and though I’m not a shopaholic, I wondered how much difference this had the potential to make in my relationship to money.  I’ve been noticing more what I do spend my money on, what feels necessary and what is frivolous.

As soon as I agreed to participate I felt total panic.  What if I need something?  What if I can’t do it? I felt much better once I realized that if I really truly needed something, I would do my best to thrift it or really research the best possible sale price.  This isn’t about making it harder on ourselves, quite the opposite as its about making things more simple.  My needs could be met, yet I wanted to appreciate more how much they already are.  Everything I need is right here in my hands.

The first few weeks it felt like breaking an addiction, counting the days and cheering myself on.  These days I just feel like I’m settling into it.  I welcomed feelings that may come up for me around this as I think it this has so much potential for learning and for creating space for newness.

For me this is about being more present in my life and to appreciate what I do have.  Who would I be if I wasn’t wearing the fanciest new thing from Anthropologie or the coolest artful jewelry or scarf that everyone is wearing.  In fact I already have a closetful of such things.  I am enough and have enough.  This has become an adventure in digging deeper into who I am, of making room for more deep breaths and less stress.  Mostly I want to see and make room for more of the richness of life that can’t be purchased.  Bring it on!

Want to join our odd-ball adventure? It’s not too late. Pick a date, start your year. You can see who else is playing along here. And stay tuned, because after Christmas AYWC participant Allyson Dickinson will be sharing her reasons, challenges, and tips. Thanks for being here!

This entry was posted on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 3:52 pm and is filed under Magpie Girl.
Tags: A Year Without Clothes



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