
To the left is the Margaret O'Leary Aran jacket, due in September, it's one of my favorites, and an absolutely fabulous Margaret O'Leary fall piece. It's on my fall "indulgence" list.
Amanda and I had a discussion yesterday that popped up because the Margaret O'Leary St. Moritz jacket, $595, sold out in a heartbeat. A friend was in the store and said to Amanda, "wow, I hope those women who were fortunate enough to get that jacket realize how lucky they were". She had been marveling at the jacket and simultaneously marveling at the high price tag---yes, this pieces was no small purchase. So if you got one, just know, everyone else is envious. But it got me thinking...and that statement she made really hit home for me.
I've always battled with feeling guilty for indulging myself. I think that women are socialized that way to a certain extent. That guilt replaces gratitude. It could just be me--maybe I'm the only one who does this. Rarely does this guilt ever actually stop me from indulging, BUT it always diminishes the pleasure, and it's a really sad way to appreciate how lucky I am. Some of it might just be in our nurturing biology, we tend to take care of everyone else first, and we come last...and when we do put ourselves first, we feel like we should be putting someone else first. Or like my sister says quite frequenly, "I feel bad enjoying this when other people can't". You'd think she would have given all her money away by the truck loads of guilt she carries, but she doesn't actually give all her money away, she just carries the guilt. Not very useful in the end, for anyone.
Well, I am renewing my promise to myself to do a better job of replacing my guilt thoughts with simple thoughts of gratitude. I LOVE my decadent cashmere purchases (by the way, NO, I don't have the St. Moritz jacket, despite wanting it). These delightful purchases make me feel good, they put a smile on my face in the morning, and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I am entirely grateful that I can make those purchases too, I should treat them with the reverance they deserve by fully appreciating the fact that I can enjoy them, that I am in a place to enjoy the luxury (whatever that is.....a cashmere sweater, an over priced double latte, an expensive jumbo-sized red Kitchen Aid mixer you don't need) :-). In that feeling of gratitude there is such a positive message too, one that serves the world so much better than any feeling of guilt, or a feeling that you "shouldn't"--because it totally ruins the fact that you "did". Gratitude recognizes yourself, it recognizes others, it recognizes beautiful things of all sorts....material things sometimes, people, actions, emotions, nature. It's the most wonderful of emotions.
So here's to my gratitude right now for Margaret O'Leary sweaters and my Hansen's rootbeer, which I'm drinking right now and thoroughly enjoying!!
Signed, ME {lv}