Raw from the Road, August 31, 2017
My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive;
and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor,
and some style.
Maya Angelou

You may be wondering what in the hell does that mean? I am Fashion.
This morning I was thinking about who I am while drinking my coffee and perusing the latest discounts I am receiving from various stores for my birthday month.
I like to visit REI, the outdoor sports store and then go to Anthropologie the fashionable clothing store for women.
Then, I read an email I recently wrote to a group I am in. It contained explicative and humor.
Yesterday, when we all met, I was on the hot seat and was thinking about abandoning ship… not my life, just my career or what I perceived to be a lack of one and focusing on everything that was not exactly great about me.
It was one of those days and that’s who I was yesterday.
Today, not so much.
Full disclosure, I have not been feeling well physically but feel like I turned a corner today and no doubt, that feels better for my psyche as well.
Back to ‘fashion.”
When I walk into a clothing store, I try on different items. Some I like. Some I don’t.
Some fit so amazingly… my body AND my soul and some feel like I am trying to look like someone else and inevitably I put it back on the rack.
Sometimes I am the crass New Yorker, the spiritual earth mother, the timid country girl, etc. etc……
It’s all so variable.
I asked myself who am I when I take off all these coverings, personas and situations?
And… I am happy to say, that my answer was this:
I am an extremely caring person, who believes in justice, integrity, mutuality, respect, love, humanity and taking care of all sentient beings and our environment.
I believe we are all connected.
I love to make things in art, music and sometimes in the kitchen.
I love being active, (that’s what we call it after age 55) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE to laugh and be soooo silly. (Thus the photo above…which was taken after borrowing my husband’s clothes because I didn’t bring anything to wear for the hot weather while we were camping).
I love not giving a shit what other people think about me (which is not always the case, but I love it when I’m there!)
I love knowing that I am the creator of my energy and thoughts and that I can change that at the drop of a hat.
I love learning and growing, even when I see something ugly about myself in the mirror… I know that it is a chance for me to hone being whole and totally loving… to myself and others.
And that’s it…for now.
So if you need advice for fashion… obviously, I am not your girl.
However, if you need advice on loving yourself… I would say… when you take off whatever it is you are wearing, you are a beautiful being, filled with love to share and opportunities to grow from.
Let’s all be really gentle with ourselves, today and every day.
Robbie
(Photo: Taken by Abi Hodes, Bloomingdales, NYC)