Yesterday I heard a story that really made me think…
THE STORY
…I had an appointment with my family doctor and she was wearing a black graphic tee that said “Free Hugs”. That’s all it said. Nothing else. It wasn’t some sort of promotional or ad related tee; it was a basic black graphic tee with that one simple statement across the chest. Initially I didn’t think anything of it other than to tell her it was cute, because much like I don’t dress like your stereotypical teacher, she doesn’t dress like your stereotypical doctor.
When she told me the story behind it though? I swear I heard my heart crack a little…and after clearing the lump from my throat, I realized it was the gentle reminder I needed to remember that we never ever really know someone else’s story and we need to keep that in mind whenever we are interacting with other human beings…we need to keep in mind that in that moment, we just might be exactly what they need.
She told me a story about an elderly woman who is a patient of hers. She said that she always gives the woman a hug at the conclusion of their appointments. A few months ago, after my doctor had given the woman her exit hug, the woman looked at her with tears in her eyes and said this…”Thank you so much for the hugs that you give me. Since my husband died over a year ago no one hugs me anymore. No one has even touched me since he passed away so I really look forward to your hugs.” Do you see now why I had a lump the size of a biscuit in my throat?
My doctor had the tee shirt made after that conversation and now wears it often during office hours. She told me that she’s always willing to, and often does, hug just about anybody, but she wants to be sure that her patients know that if they need a hug she has one ready for them. We talked for a minute about how important human contact is and how important it is to feel like you matter. Honestly, I think we all need that. Every. Single. One. Of. Us.
We also talked about how you can never know someone else’s reality. She would have never known that the only human touch her patient got was from her had the woman not been vulnerable and honest. So much of our interactions with others though are in passing so we aren’t privy to their personal pain nor are we just going to be randomly hugging strangers at the grocery store. The lesson still applies though…when you interact with someone do what you can to make them feel seen, share a smile, share a laugh, allow them to feel like they matter at least in that one little moment. You never know, that one little moment might be all that they need to get them through the day…
THE OUTFIT
This month I went a little off script for the Ageless Style Link Up theme. Shugunna chose “floral/tropical print sundresses” and while I had the floral/tropical theme in mind, I forgot that it was supposed to be a sundress. Since I beat you to death with both floral sundresses and vacation spam last week I figured I’d go with my yellow floral kimono instead. However you can check out my both my yellow floral sundress and my boho floral print sundress from last weeks post’s if you’d like to take a gander at some floral sundress awesomeness. Technically though, if I had layered this yellow floral kimono over a slip dress and tied it shut it would be a dress, so that counts, right?
In any case, that isn’t what I did, instead I layered the yellow floral kimono over my favorite denim Bermudas and a black satin cami. A kimono just seems to make even the most basic look a little fancy, doesn’t it? Keeping with the little bit fancy idea, I threw on my much loved black block heel sandals instead of flats. I was going to my bff’s birthday and it was outside on a patio at a local restaurant so I figured this would be cute, casual and not too hot for an outside event.
My daughter was coming along with us and unbeknownst to me she was in her bedroom putting together almost the same outfit with jeans and her Birks. So today you’re getting a two-fer as evidence that you need a few good floral print kimonos in your closet!
THE TIP
If you’re shopping for a kimono, but fear being overwhelmed by all of the fabric, keep these thoughts in mind:
- Go for a kimono with a drawstring or tie like the one that I’m wearing so you can rein in the extra fabric if necessary.
- Or find a kimono that tapers in at the waist like the one that my daughter is wearing.
- You can also belt it, like I did here. That gives you another option for waist definition.
- If you buy a kimono made of a lightweight fabric like chiffon or a light cotton, the floatiness of the fabric will prevent extra bulk.
THE LINK UPS
Check out the weekly link ups I participate in for even more fashion and style ideas… BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN AND LINK UP WITH MYSELF AND MY LOVELY CO-HOSTS FOR THIS MONTHS AGELESS STYLE LINK UP!!
Kimono: Walmart (Similar); Shorts: American Eagle; Cami: Nasty Gal (Similar); Sandals: JCPenney (Similar)
Daenel ~ Living outside the stacks blog, instagram, pinter
Debbie ~ Fashion Fairy Dust bloglovin, blog, instagra
Jennie ~ A Pocketful of Polka Dots blog, instagram, facebook
Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style blog, facebook, instagra
Julia ~ When the Girls Rule blog, facebook, instagram, pinterest,
Kellyann ~ This Blonde’s Shopping Bag blog, instagram, bloglovin
Lisa ~ Coast to Coast blog, facebook, instagra
Paula ~ Dimples on my What blog, facebook, pinterest
Shelly ~ The Queen in Between blog, instagram, blogl
Shugunna~ Nzuri N* Simplicity blog, instagram, pi
