Shape Embracing

At the end of the day you have to ask yourself: Of the many different lives that can be lived, which is the one that's going to inspire you? - Angela Bassett





Years ago, when I was still creating textile art, I took a rectangular piece that I no longer wanted as a centerpiece on my dining room table and cut it into twelve equal parts that then became the front and backs of six different purses. At the start, I could pursue six of the step one ideas that occurred to me but after that, I could only explore one each of the step two or step three or step four ideas for each of the purses. Each idea taken was a journey explored.

When I read Angela's quote, it made me think of the purses. Her thought echoed my learning. Making those purses opened my eyes to the many Many MANY ideas in my life that go unexplored.  They are not necessarily wrong; they are simply ideas that don't inspire me as much as the ones that do get followed. Life is like that. We cannot do anything. We must choose... wisely... as wisely as we can.





Tuesday morning, I had coffee with a woman I first meet eighteen years ago when she was moving to town under difficult circumstances. We hadn't talked since.  I recognized her Monday morning at Starbucks and just to make sure I had the same woman, I asked if she'd been a model and did she have twins. She was surprised - rather stunned - and extremely excited. It seems that I was the only person who could complete a circle in her life and it meant a great deal to her to talk to me and to close that circle. We arranged to have coffee the next morning.

While I was walking that morning, I thought about what to wear. This woman is very beautiful and has a vivacious and outgoing personality. She exudes confidence. At first, I thought I wanted to look good and then I realized that more than anything, I wanted to feel good. I wore an emotionally flattering outfit.

We had a long conversation that went in many interesting directions including - at one point - modeling. As you know, I've been wanting to take a modeling course to feel more comfortable taking pictures for the blog. In the end, I concluded that being comfortable in front of the camera has a line much the same as looking good and feeling good. While someone may be able to tell me about lighting and photography angles and make-up and my best poses, no one - other than myself  - will be able to feel comfortable in front of the camera. That's an inside out job.





Isn't that the same with dressing our bodies - with achieving that beautiful blend of emotional and physical fit? The picture above came from this page on The Skinny Confidential that talks about transforming your body type through exercise. For the pear shape - my shape - it suggest jumping jacks, dips, fast walking no incline, biking, jumping rope, push-ups and/or pull-ups and to avoid squats, lunges, leg presses, sprinting, swimming, kick-boxing, and/or all elliptical machines. Hmm...when I think of all the different lives that I could live, the one that inspires me the most does not include shape shifting. It's beyond looking good and into feeling good. It's all about shape embracing.





Yesterday, I finished all the hand stitching on the seams and tucks of the pants I'm making. With all the changes I've made to the pattern, I've decided they are more original than not and will hereafter be referred to as The Myrna Pants. I've been patting and admiring them so much that it's taking me even longer to finish them. This seems to be the perfect blend of fabric and pattern and detail. I hope so. I can hardly wait to put the waistband on and try them on. Wear them. Feel emotionally fabulous in them. YES YES ! ! !

Talk soon - Myrna

Grateful - reality checks