I have recently learned something about myself. Well maybe not so much “learned”, but more so, understood better. I grew up on a farm in a small village. And shopping to us was an event. A shopping trip was at least an hour away, so it was important to utilise the time wisely and get as much trying on, and purchasing done as possible. Shit I even remember when I got my training bra. We were on the way home I was in the back seat of the car, and my mom said, “show your father your new bra”. So I did and I remember I was so pleased with myself. NOW, I wish I could fit back into that training bra. And while we are on the topic, why do they even call it a “training bra?”. Or was that just something “they” said in those days? Either way, I can tell you now, that these lovely lady lumps of mine must of had some AMAZING “training”, because they grew more than they perhaps even should have! (thank you Zellars little girl bra section for being so helpful!)
I have recently labelled myself, hence the gypsy chic title to this blog. I have realized that as much as I love a good brand name, a pretty heel, (that I sadly cant wear much of anymore), makeup, and layering my body in jewels…I’m really a bit of a gypsy at heart. Which to some that know me, may not come as much of a surprise. The facts are: I hate wearing a bra, I like to look cute when I fly, I love me a brand name perfume, but I also love a good natural organic perfume oil, I love being in bare feet always, and expensive silver jewelry is one of the many ways to my heart. So you can see the confusion.
I have always loved travel and did so on a budget. But always managed to have some amazing experiences on that budget, with memoires that will last me a lifetime. I have lived in a car, (by choice), and showered by the beach. Where I would be in my bathing suit shampooing and shaving all my womanly goodness! I have lived with complete strangers, many of which couldn’t speak English or very little of. And shared rooms, showers, and communal areas in places that were a small step up from jail. But amazingly through those younger years of mine, I learned so much about not only myself, but other people, cultures and ways of living. And I wouldn't change a thing. All the times I was flat broke and had to find a job, any job, to make enough cash to move on to my next adventure…worth it!!!
So going through my life up until the past few years, I have always wanted more. More in terms of that pretty new duvet cover for my bed, those pretty hand towels that I will never actually use or allow company to use for that matter, for fear they may……well… get used. I’d buy clothes that would hang in my closet with the tag still on them for weeks, or longer. Why the hell did I do that?? !! Why buy something that I clearly liked at the time and never wear it? Was I scared to ruin it (them)? It was the same way with glassware! I would buy these pretty drinks glasses that I never used, but instead used the old tatty looking ones to keep the nicer ones, looking nice???
Now I have come to terms with my over spending under appreciating ways. At least that's how I feel. Now don’t get me wrong, I do still love a good brand name and gorgeous pair of heels. A throw pillow that I sometimes only want to put on the couch when the childless company come over. And my eye still wanders to the over priced products that my husband now says, “I could make that for way less”. But what I realise is that those things really don’t make me any happier. I’m not saying that they never did in the past, but in the present, it’s just “stuff” to me.
I love my gypsy chic moo moo dresses (which fine I suppose to be fair I started wearing when I got sick and couldn't fit into anything else I owned comfortably). But I love them none the less. They are comfortable and just enough fashion, that I can dress them up with some jewelry that I have had for years and no one is the wiser. That’s the other point I’d like to make. I’d spend so much time and money on things, because as if I was going to the Oscars, I didn’t want people to see me wear something twice! Like really Shannon- who do you actually think you are??!!!
Now, I’m just happy to have clothes on at all. Well actually that is a bit of a fib! I would rather be naked, but in a dark room, where no one could see me of course, eating chips and dip, and drinking wine from one of my many accumulated glasses, that to the wine world would be a sacrilege. But seriously though, I want to be comfortable daily. Right down to my underwear. However, I’m not at the so called “granny panty” stage just yet. I don’t like showing panty lines. It’s my thing- don’t judge!
We live in a hot country that most days means ,my hair is up in some messy bun, that thankfully looks kinda cute for the simple fact that I have curly hair and can pull that off. I live in flip flops ( aka thongs, no i’m not wearing my panties on my feet), I never wear socks even in cold temperatures, and I have like 2 pairs of jeans to my name. And yoga pants are a staple, a must if you will. And no I am not enrolled in a yoga class/ group, because they are overpriced and I can watch that shit on youtube for free!
I’m just simply saying, that even though I still appreciate the finer things in life, and always will, Im happy and content with the things I have now. I don’t judge other people based on what they have or don’t have for that matter. And to be frank, I never have. It’s very easy to let things accumulate in our lives, but at the end of the day, it’s just “stuff”. You know the age old saying of, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”, well that is how I choose to look at my life and the materialistic “stuff” I have in it. I have plates, sure I may have had them for a couple years, but there is nothing wrong with them. They hold my food, and that’s good enough for me.
We all live our lives differently. My way may not be your cup of tea or ideal situation, but I can tell you this, your way of living may not be mine either. And that’s ok. Because all that matters to me is that i’m going to wake up in my mediocre bed, smile with my body and mind, and breath in the day as though it was the first day of the rest of my life. Because so far, I have led a pretty amazing life and not one memory I have is based around those amazing heels I had on, or that expensive watch. I just don’t need it to be truly madly and deeply happy with myself and the life I live.