day forty

… and that's it - my restricted wardrobe is no more, and I can go back to the rest of my clothes.  Here is my last outfit, and my first.  (Yes, I am still wearing the same jeans - just because I can wear the rest of my wardrobe doesn't mean I can't still wear my forty!)

So what have I learnt?

1.  I need less than I have.

2.  Sometimes it is easier to have less choice.  If I only have a few options, it takes less time in the morning to get dressed!

3.  But sometimes it is harder to have less choice.  Limiting my clothes was a temporary measure, and I knew I would be able to go back to my old wardrobe in the end.  But when your overall resources are limited, every choice becomes a trade off - choosing one thing means you can't have another - and the time and energy that goes into weighing up these choices is stressful and demoralising.

4.  Each item I own represents different people who made the material, the clothes, shipped and sold the clothes, and I have a duty of care to each of them.

5.  Clothes are fun!  But that's all.  (Okay, they are also necessary for public decency.)  But other than that, they are not that important.

(But shoes, of course, are life itself…)

day thirty-nine

Nearly there… and I have to say I am getting bored of my forty items.

(Actually it is thirty nine at the moment - when I was on holiday, I left a jumper in the holiday house.  Fortunately my sister picked it up and brought it back for me, but it is in Edinburgh right now, alas.)

I know, I know, forty items are plenty.  And it really has been simpler in many ways, to choose from a smaller wardrobe.  But I am looking forward to getting back to all my other clothes!

However, I have managed a bit of a clear out...

day thirty-four

So, the great thing about going on holiday with so few clothes?  It takes no time to pack, I just throw all my clothes in my case.

The bad thing about going on holiday with so few clothes?  I have to do the washing as soon as I get home…

Day thirty-three

Just coming to the end of a holiday in the North West of Scotland with my family (and out of internet range most of the time…)  Took pretty much all of my clothes.  Wore pretty much all of them most of the time.   Weather pretty good (apart from the rain), and had a pretty darn good time!

day twenty-two

Am just back from a trip to one of my favourite places with some of my favourite people.  The Cathedral of the Isles, on the island of Cumbrae is the smallest cathedral in the British Isles.  My choir, Voicebeat, went for a weekend trip - we had a lovely time singing and relaxing in the peaceful surroundings.

Also, today marks the day I wore my fortieth item of clothing.  This stripy jumper is quite special.  Years ago, I was on holiday in the States, and had all my luggage stolen on the last day of my holiday.

In my luggage was a stripy jumper from Gap that I loved.  This was one of the three things I most regretted losing (the other two were my computer, and a necklace I had been given as a present).

Years later, to my delight, I found this one on eBay, and bought it, to replace the one I had stolen.

By the way, if anyone tells you I bought a new handbag in the charity shop on the island, don't listen to them...

day twenty

‘Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these.'  Luke 12:27

Halfway through, and what have I learnt so far?

1.  It is easier to get dressed for work when I have only three outfits that are work-smart.  Saves time in the morning.

2.  I do miss the fun of deciding on an outfit for going out.

3.  I like coats and shoes most of all, because I miss them most of all.

Our study group at church tonight was looking at Luke 12:13-34, and thinking about possessions - one of the questions was whether our possessions end up possessing us. 

I enjoy using clothes to express myself, which is fine.  The challenge is not to let the clothes be more than that - not to use them to project an image, or to hide behind.  God made me as I am, and if I'm not perfect, I should be growing into what God made me to be, not pretending to be something else.

Okay, only 23 days to go...

day eighteen

Okay, now I have thirty nine items.  I've lost my little black vest top.  I was looking for it this afternoon and couldn't find it anywhere it should have been.  I did wonder about taking the identical one I have in my wardrobe and wearing that instead, but I thought that would probably be considered cheating...

If anyone sees it, let me know!