The Joy of Long Dresses

My recent venture to a second-hand store has yielded two new long dresses for my wardrobe at a teeny tiny price. I also gained a skirt and top, but the dresses are what excite me. I've already worn them both a few times. What I love about them... what can I say? I am comfortable, covered, and effortlessly coordinated, all at once. One is a long blue knit dress, made by a "travel" brand, that doesn't wrinkle easily. I wear it with cardigan sweaters and pretty scarves. The other is a long denim jumper dress, the options for which are endless and I'm sure I don't have to explain. I have never felt more "together," more lovely and more in tune with who I really am than since I started wearing them. It's like God left them there for me on the racks to find, just for me. Wearing the dresses, I feel equipped to handle anything that comes my way. They're like my uniform for battle, but deliciously comfortable and pleasing to the eye. Best of all is the modesty factor. I don't have to worry a bit about showing anything inappropriate by moving the wrong way or anything like that. Remember my musings on gentleness? It's certainly easier to remain soft, calm and gentle in a long dress. I'm reminded of the flowing robes of the saints, of our dear Blessed Mother Mary. She should really be our "fashion model," and I admit that I feel close to her wearing clothing that is more in line with hers. The blue doesn't hurt either, it being her color and my own favorite. There really is joy in a beautiful dress, and as you can see, it's not just for vanity's sake. The Lord sees to it that we are not to worry about what we are to wear, for He'll provide just what we need as He did with my perfect, modest, comfortable and affordable dresses.

Please, for Pete's sake...

Things that need to disappear:

Hashtags on Facebook

"______ shaming"

The unregulated, freewheeling creation of what I call "reverse gerunds!"  I'm sure there's a technical term for it somewhere. Also known as "verbing," which is itself an unauthorized reverse gerund...

Terms like "mansplaining and manspreading."

What are we, America, twelve? All of us?

I propose we are not, but to the rest of the world we sure appear to be. If I could find a better country to migrate to, I would. The whole world is a mess, so I suppose I should continue to feather my nest where my eggs have hatched, but we're a far cry from the greatest country in world. More like the "least bad."

And it's possible there's a better one. I haven't really done my research.

Satisfied

Today I want to talk about being satisfied in accomplishing the small things in life. I am gloriously happy spending a quiet solitary day cleaning, walking, praying, observing the natural world and being mindful of all the little good things in my material life. Maybe it's because I'm an introvert, maybe because I'm inclined toward contemplative Catholic spirituality, maybe because I get easily overwhelmed by sounds and crowds.  Maybe because of all three. I don't feel obligated to fill my days with noise, clutter, or a "social life." God isn't concerned about whether I have a certain number of "friends" or make efforts to keep up with the pace of the secular world.

I'm sure God doesn't want me indulging my desire for solitude as much as I do, because unregulated introspection can quickly become self-righteousness or plain old selfishness. It can become good works left undone.  But I do feel that in our modern world, the more of us who can learn to stay quiet long enough to hear God's voice, the more of us who can turn off the noise of the world and find contentment in the daily necessities of life, and the more who can adopt a habit of introspection, the better.

I am satisfied that I have done a load of laundry today. I am satisfied that I sent my husband to work having had coffee and an egg, with a sandwich to eat later. I am satisfied that I cooked a healthy dinner almost completely from scratch. I am satisfied with my walk to the marina park, where two species of coastal birds were on display. I am satisfied in my buying groceries for the week. I am happy in these mundane tasks, for in them I find the glory of the Father who provides them for us- work for our hands, two strong legs for walking, the beauty of his winged creatures, the abundance of healthy food where I live, the clean water I use to make tea, wash clothes, and cook vegetables.  I am grateful and content, and I experience peace. How often can we say that?

I recognize my privilege- I don't have to scavenge for food, work in a sweatshop seven days a week, walk miles for water, or live in an ultra-polluted wasteland (including noise pollution).That is the grace of God. By that grace I also inherit the responsibility of "living simply that others may simply live."  Regardless of a person's spirituality, one can find contentment by that rule and sleep in good conscience, without expending energy worrying about fashion, social media, or superficial social obligation.

I don't mean to say I don't use Facebook or make social calls. I do. But those things are extras for me. Honestly, I'm truly not interested in it half the time, but there is a time and place for all that.

As a Catholic wife, of course, my home and husband are my priorities after God.

But I recommend to anyone a greater focus on mindfulness, quietude, and contentment in the little things.