I love clothes, but I hate shopping. Especially, when looking for something specific. Once you have envisioned the perfect look it is often difficult to find. Usually, the look involves something that would be fabulous on a model of 5’10 not so attractive on my 5’4 frame. OK, I found the outfit, now comes the equally thrilling hunt for the perfect shoes. Did I mention that I love shoes? Of course six-inch heels are not always practical, but to hit the 5”10 mark—See my dilemma?

Planning a wardrobe for a special occasion involves so much more than shopping. Clothes are like a messenger. They announce your arrival as an extension of who you are.  Let’s face it; people judge. They often assume things about you before you ever have a chance to speak. Do the clothes make the (wo)man?  Put on a pretty dress and you feel pretty. Put on sexy lingerie and you feel sexy. Put on a pair of sweats and you feel, comfy-if not a little sloppy. So in a sense, it makes you feel a certain way and your actions usually follow accordingly. When your fingers slide over cool silk how do you feel? Scratchy dense wool against your cheek, what are your memories? Cashmere sliding over your torso, what do you envision?

Clothes can create a scenario, evoke and make memories, bring comfort and confidence. They are so much more than thread and fabric. Fortunately my recent clothing woes have been solved by a somewhat rash decision. It may not be my usual style, but it will make me feel exactly how I will need to feel. Little girls are always dressing up in mommy’s party clothes and costumes. They envision themselves as someone else for a brief moment. Then they usually giggle and smear lipstick on their face!  So pull out the feathers and big hats. Look in the mirror and purse your lips, you’re a big girl now, go on- giggle away.

Hindsight is 20-20, right?  He who hesitates is lost. Everything happens for a reason. If only, then I will…  Too many cliches. We often wish for ‘things’ to be different and when the serendipitous moment arrives we are paralyzed by the reality of it. Although we may not recognize it at the time or take full advantage of it, if we try to become more aware then we can at least practice using it to our advantage. Eventually it will be come second nature, a habit developed and we will begin to live life more fully.

If we continue to hesitate, to wait for the right moment, what are we missing out on? Our path through life is seldom straight and each choice we make alters our course. It may or may not change the ultimate destination, but it changes how we arrive. Meandering down the road of life looking for directional signs have a time and place in our lives, it gets us where we need to go. However, when I think back to my recent trip to Paris, one of the greatest joys I experienced, was walking through the city with no plan in mind. I could—and did, turn down any street that beckoned me. Did the cobbled alleyways alter my path in any profound way? Not that I can see—yet.  Did the freedom alter my perception of making choices? Without a doubt.

I have a little stone sign on my desk that reads; “May the road always lead you where you need to be.” It is meaningful to me on several levels and I believe that it will. We may wish we were somewhere else, doing something else, but wishing does not make it so. It is only when we listen to the small voice inside of us, the one that speaks from our true self, that our choices will lead us where we need to be. 

Such a fickle friend. Comes and goes as it pleases. Like a cat, if you call for it to come to you, it turns a haughty head and walks y away slowly, tail in the air. Have a little extra time, decide to pay it some attention and it appears to have gone on an extended vacation. But, have a million important things to do and there it is rubbing up against your leg, begging to be held and petted.

Just do it. Write, write, write. It does not matter if it is good or even if you are working on the project with a deadline. All that matters is that the words are flowing. Sometimes, it is just a way to clean out the ugly sentences and phrases that cling to our dirty minds. Sometimes it is to remind us how much better we can be. And sometimes it is just the little kick you need to get started. There will always be obstacles in your way. There will always be those that tell you to quit wasting your time. Excuses are easily found and self- doubt can be crippling. Sit down, take a deep breath, and write. Tell the damn cat you don’t need her after all. 

Home seems to be the word of the week. People travelling and returning home. People looking for a place to call home. People wishing they didn’t have quite so much time to spend at home.  There is no place like home... Regardless of where it might be or if it is the place you have always dreamed of, home is a place that lives inside of us. We go there whenever we need to feel safe, secure, and happy. It is a place like no other.

Often times my family says to me” I do not know whose house you grew up in but it wasn’t ours.” A writer with a vivid imagination, I sometimes confuse the reality of the world with the imaginary worlds I have created. To me, those other worlds are just as real and they too are ‘home’ at times.  Whether you are reading or writing, nearing the end of a story can bring an impending sense of loss. You know that once you finish, this world and the people in it will be gone. (Thankfully there are sequels!) But inside of us, we carry the memories, whether real or imagined, to call on whenever we need to.  

Adventures lead us. They lead us to new places, to meet new people, to learn new things. The excitement and anticipation of what is to come, makes our pulse race and our breathing quicken. The moments of discovery that fill us with joy and wonder are forever etched in our minds. Adventures are wonderful. However, the best moment is when you settle in your own bed and sigh, knowing you are finally home.