Be Your Own Inspiration
Image by Olena Sergienko
In three days, it'll be New Year's Eve... This means there's immense pressure circulating in the air. We're all thinking about what we'll be wearing leading up to the famous countdown, how we're going improve ourselves in the new year, and how many irrational New Year's Resolutions we're setting in place to right all of our wrongs in 2016. Instead of going into the new year with mounting stress, I say we take it easy! Go easy on the outfit and expectations you bring with you to that New Year's Eve party.
These days, I'm driven more by comfort and interest when choosing an outfit. That doesn't change, just because it's New Year's! If you feel overwhelmed because you're trying to track down the perfect dress or sequined pant, try to take a quick breather! Just thinking about the end of another year is bad enough! Relax, look at what you have already, and make a go of it. There isn't a rule out there that says you have to be ultra glam with the best sparkles or glitter smokey eye. I scooped up this Who What Wear pajama shirt dress at Target a couple of weeks ago with New Year's in mind. Yes, I said pajama dress! It's simple, comfortable, and eye-catching－all you need to have a wonderful outfit in my book.
Once the outfit was squared away, my head started swirling with all year's accomplishments and failures. I even debated making my own list of resolutions, but then I thought: Make goals, not resolutions. Don't follow, lead. Be your own inspiration.
That's when I started to think about how much a difference a year makes. This time last year, I was irritant and thinking about how I'd never get an internship and have nothing to show for my first year as a city dweller (compared to all the other fashion students with gorgeous portfolios and mile long resumes). It was down-right depressing. Realizing that I wanted more for myself, I made it a goal of mine to accomplish both things in the new year (no matter how long they took). Guess what?! After I was done pouting, I was able to accomplish both.
Around this time of year, we spend so much time worrying about how we stack up to others and how others will perceive our status or value. It's worth it to switch up our thinking and facilitate our own growth. Don't change yourself going into the new year, because you think that's what you should do. Do what you want. Think more about what's important to you and how you can accomplish your goals on a reasonable timetable. I can bet you one thing: going into the year with outrageous expectations leads to a tough break in reality. I've been there, and we all have when we realize the twenty pounds aren't going to come off in one week.
There won't be any glitter or sequins for me this time around, but rather a nice dose of reality. Go into 2017 staying true to yourself and living for your own happiness, friends.