I’ve discovered over the years that life isn’t simply black and white. The varying shades of gray are often endless dependent upon the situation, and this realization often serves to make life easier. We don’t stress so much about the little things…
THE STORY
…Gray areas allow for differing opinions and ideas. Gray areas give us the opportunity to see things through the eyes of others. Thus allowing us to develop empathy and understanding for those with life experiences and feelings outside of our realm of knowledge. Gray areas allow us to learn.
I have this personality trait though that could be viewed as a positive or a negative depending on your point of view. Some situations just flip a switch in my brain, and there is no gray area. It is black and white; an absolute undeniable contrast between right and wrong, plain and simple. Perhaps this quirk comes from my dark and shady childhood. So much was inherently wrong that I developed a very astute sense at an early age of what right and wrong truly was. I saw the unfairness of wrong in stark detail, and felt the helplessness of being unable to make it right.
Hence, as an adult, if something strikes me as wrong, if it goes (at least in my mind) entirely against my principles of fairness I cannot let it go. I have to make it right. If I compromise on what I believe to be right, it will eat at me. It’s almost as if my soul withers away a bit. And sometimes, not surprisingly, when one holds fast to one’s principles people get angry with you. You see, when the gray areas are gone and all that’s left is black and white, empathy becomes a difficult proposition.
Those of you who have been reading the blog for any period of time know through both my style choices and my attitude that I really don’t lose much sleep over what people think of me. But here’s the exception to that rule; it is important to me if the person in question is someone that is relevant to me in some way. Whether it be someone that I love, someone that I like, or simply someone that I respect, their opinions do matter. Unfortunately though, sometimes life is messy. And sometimes those black and white situations arise unexpectedly in relationships that do matter. In that case the temptation can be strong to compromise those deeply ingrained principles of right and wrong.
Here’s the thing though, if we don’t have the tenacity to stand by those things that we truly believe in, even if it’s difficult, even if people that matter get angry with us, then I feel we lose a little piece of ourselves. And at the end of the day who is it that you have to look at in the mirror? I don’t know about you, but when I look in the mirror I want to see me. All of me. So if weathering some anger and perhaps disappointment from others means that I come out of it whole on the other side, then so be it.
THE OUTFIT
Ahhh…my love of all things drapey and flowy and soft is never ending. And this olive long vest I received c/o Shein is perfection on all three counts. And it’s olive. And has pockets. Seriously, it doesn’t get better than that. Now, fashion “rules” dictate that if you’re going flowy and loose on top then you go streamlined on the bottom and vice versa. Being the fan of rules that I am, I did the opposite. Flowy paired with flowy. Loose and flowy olive long vest on top and loose and flowy black pants on the bottom. I kept the necklaces and tee lightweight as well to echo the lightness of the rest of the look. Ground it all with a fine pair of sneaks and you’ve got a perfect combo of comfy and cool.
THE TIP
You can pair two loose fitting pieces if you do it right. The key is in the weight of the material. Bulky + bulky = well, bulky. But keep the material lightweight on both counts (or at least one of the pieces) and you get comfort without taking on the appearance of a refrigerator.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas…
Vest: c/o Shein; Pants: JCPenney (Similar); Shoes: Nordstrom
**This post was sponsored by Shein, but as always, all opinions are my own.
