I began to realize
that what really matters is
the tone + the content
of the voice in your head.
~Dr. Jim Loehr
that what really matters is
the tone + the content
of the voice in your head.
~Dr. Jim Loehr
Sokoi's Laurel linen pants are my new favorite soft pants. Soko designed these pants to be used for yoga which means I can put them on in the morning before stretching + sun salutations. I can wear them while I hang out crosslegged on the couch + when I meet Jo for coffee. I wear them to work, and I'm wearing them to a fancy concert tonight. They are breezy with a tank top + cozy with a cashmere sweater.
This is how I want my wardrobe to work. I don't want to have to have yoga pants + work pants, fancy pants, winter pants, summer pants, grocery store pants + pajama pants. I don't want to have to change my clothes four times a day. I hope that it's clear that this is not about a certain pair of pants. This is about a certain way of thinking. I remember trying to imagine the ideal smallest wardrobe that could work for me. The pivotal item was a pair of seasonless, soft pants like these. I think it's an interesting exercise to imagine how little I could live + function with. It empowers me to imagine living with a smaller footprint, living in a smaller home, making less money, weathering a crisis, and with greater contentment with what I have. So, yeah...these feel like magical pants! All lovely images via Sokoi. Love, Jane
One day with temperatures in the 80s was all it took for me to start thinking about shorts. My eye currently likes the proportions of shorter shorts with oversized button ups + midlength shorts with fitted tank tops. But I'm interested in training my eye to appreciate the proportions of knee length shorts. I really like the idea of sitting down in shorts + having them still covering a comfortable amount of thigh. :)
It's not easy to find knee-length-shorts looks on the internet that don't involve heels, blazers or belly baring tops which just don't hold any interest for me. My preference is toward easy, worn-in + not too serious outfits. My notes (toward my preferences) so far:
Inspiring photos via links or pinterest. Love, Jane  Since I had the time, my transitional, try-on session led straight into listing a few things on my favorite online resale site. Within hours someone who lives locally reached out + wanted three of the items! We ended up meeting the next day for a quick exchange.
Of course, I had fun dressing up a little package to hand off. I hope she felt the little jolt of pleasure that accompanied the smiles we exchanged. I also hope that she enjoys wearing the pieces inside! This fortunate outcome has never happened before, but felt really lovely this time. Love, Jane  How do you update your wardrobe for a new season?
When I was growing up, I remember going to the mall at the start of a new season + talking with my mom about what the new colors of the season seemed to be. It was fun to try a few things on, see if they suited us, and perhaps add a new color or style to our wardrobes. I still like to browse the new ethical clothing collections to see what new colors + shapes they have to offer each season. I also like to know that anything I purchase will be useful in my wardrobe + life. That insight comes from pulling everything out of my closet at the beginning of the season + making piles of pants, sweaters, short sleeved tees, etc. It's always helpful to see how many of each I have. I try on outfits + think through ways to wear things. Today, I set aside a few pieces that I like, but don't wear often. I'm thinking through the reasons I choose other pieces more often: I adjust this one all day...this neckline isn't my favorite...I feel a bit washed out in this one...these sleeves are a little too puffed. I play around with them...maybe if I roll the sleeves...maybe with these pants. A few things get listed on a resale site. I'll try wearing a couple this week in new ways (decisions pending). These observations + actions are my data. I'm refining my style + my ability to add only pieces that stand the test of time. I haven't shopped at the mall in a long time. These are the try on sessions that matter most to me now. Honestly, I'm sure they always have been. Laying eyes on all of the good things that are already in my wardrobe is really satiating. It is very good to think about updates from a place of satisfaction. Do I need updates or am I just settling back in to the pieces that make me feel good? Maybe the update I need most is to my thinking rather than to my wardrobe after all. Love, Jane  What's making me smile these days:
It's always interesting to me how mundane + obvious these type of lists feel in the moment. But when I come across them later, there is something unfamiliar + lovely about them. I think it would be kind of delicious to find such a list tucked into a book or in the pocket of a jacket next fall. Similarly, I often keep fortune cookie fortunes or tickets from a movie or boat ride tucked into a bag or pocket to come across later. They always elicit a smile + often a conversation. Why shouldn't good things + sacred moments offer smiles more than once? It's usually more effective to team up with a species than to create a machine. A plastic spoon in every brain. The housing was sold at cost. Hope your weekend involves some sunshine + some quiet moments. Much love, Jane  As we enter a new stage of life this week (empty nesting!), we're looking for ways to lean into fresh starts rather than sad endings. Among other things, taking a fresh look at living lighter on the planet is attracting my focus + excitement.
We're currently discussing + looking into:
I'm having fun researching + leaning into these shifts. It's exciting to think about all the benefits that are possible here. Our choices would not only cost the earth less in resources, pollution and landfill space. They will save us money, increase our wellness and enhance our connection with nature. So it goes with most of these planet focused efforts. Why would we want to choose otherwise? Love, Jane  How are you feeling? I wish I could listen to your reply.
I'm horrified. I'm sad. I'm bewildered. I feel like we've been living in a state of defeat for years. I've been feeling like less words are necessary. I'm less interested in reading things that end up where I already know I am. We know that we need to dig in right where we are. When I feel like that's not helping, I try to remember the light experienced:
We are here to participate in our mutual flourishing. Yours matters to me. Much love, Jane  I have been a hippy, a biker, a partier, an entrepreneur + am now a senior still working.
I've been a tour guide, vacuum cleaner salesman, parking patrol officer, private eye, animal photographer, actor, casting director + always an explorer of the mind. No job or part of my life has ever truly defined me. These are just bits + bites, but they are big parts of what has shaped me. I have learned that we are all one - every living thing, every molecule + atom on this earth + beyond. Knowing this has given me great strength + courage to live this life I've been given with intention + gratitude. ~ Deb Barnes  It is proposed that tomorrow be a buy nothing day as a show of collective economic power. Some say it is ok to make purchases from small businesses, if necessary. If you've come across this proposal, you've likely had some thoughts about it. I wonder how much impact a blip like this can have if purchases are just made on Thursday + Saturday instead. The snow days we've had in the past two weeks had a larger impact no doubt, because there was no opting in or out of them.
If we use a day like this as motivation for curiosity, thought + learning toward making different choices, however, I think there is value here. There are so many things we can be doing + choices we can be exploring for ourselves + together. Things like:
Ethical + sustainable actions enable us to form longer term networks of mutual flourishing. Wouldn't it be incredible if all of this upheaval leads to a vast movement toward sustainability + meaningful connection? This is our time to redouble our own efforts, to dig into our knowledge + experience, to invite others to join us + to do it all with joy! We have the opportunity to share the compounding benefits of the shifts we make. Benefits like:
I do feel that there is hope here. Less complacency. More love + care. The power to touch each other is still in our hands. Love, Jane |
on a journey toward zero-waste, simplicity, + compassion :: daring to choose fair one choice at a time
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