I'm weird because try as I might, I am just not all that concerned about how I look when I run and often other times. Now lest you think I am a complete slob, let me state that I am not. I am always clean, I like to look at fashion magazines and contemplate new hairstyles (and covet long, thick hair, which I do not have.) I like to go shopping, and am excited when I find something that is cute and looks and fits "just right." I have plenty of shoes, and I do wear make-up. However, oftentimes (especially when I go running) my "look" is more of one of comfort and convenience than of style. I have tried (really I have) to buy and wear "cute" running clothes. I actually own an $80 under-armor cute fitted running jacket, and I wear it .....sometimes. But my outer-wear of choice when running in cold weather is one of Kent's XL hoodies. I can pull the over-sized sleeves up inside my fists and my hands stay MUCH warmer than if I am wearing the stylish fitted running jacket with gloves. And the hood of the hoodie pulled over my ears with the drawstrings tightly drawn is ever-so-much more warm than the cute running ear-band that I purchased several years back. Furthermore, I prefer old shoes. The running shoes I am currently wearing are "several pairs back"-meaning I've purchased several new pair since then. However, I somehow just keep coming back to these old ones. I have worried about the wear and tear on my feet and legs that might come from wearing worn-out shoes, but then I read this book about barefoot running, and just decided to stick with what I like and what is comfortable. I do put on one of the newer pairs of running shoes if I'm going to be running a race, but for day-to-day use, I prefer my old stand-bys. (Maybe I'd do better in the races I run, if I'd WEAR my old stand-bys, instead of being so vain and feeling like I need to "look good" for the race.)
Now I DO try to dress up to go to work each day, but I find myself having to "set goals" to wear jewelry, cause I just don't think about it (and besides, those long necklaces sometimes bump the first-graders in the head when I lean over to help them.) And I can only stand to wear stylish, yet not-so-comfortable shoes about one day per week. I remember my mom changing out her purse to match the season or the outfit she was wearing. I tried that.... I even had a system: I put all the contents of my purse into ziploc baggies and hung several purses right inside my kitchen door so I could easily "change out" my purse according to my outfit.......I think I did it twice. Lately, however, I've become super pathetic ( or "weird"), using a plastic grocery bag to carry items back and forth to school. I just throw my phone and my wallet into a bag and anything else that I might need (including my lunch). It's lovely, I can just throw the bag away when I'm done or donate it to a child who may have forgotten his/her backpack. So now am I not only not changing out my handbags according to my outfit and/or the season, but I'm also using a plastic grocery bag as a purse. ......Lovely......(and "weird.")
Last time my daughter was home from college, she pulled on a middle school hoodie that someone had left lying around and headed out. She lamented that she really needed to start "caring more." She said, "I'm going to set a goal to try to be more 'high-maintenance'.....you know maybe get hair extensions or color my hair, and wear more jewelry." I laughed and asked, "Why?" She stated that she felt that this might be the best way to "get a man." (Let me just say that this daughter has NO trouble attracting men.....but apparently she has not yet attracted a man to suit her liking.) Anyway, whatever the case, I guess that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" when it comes to being a "high maintenance" woman.....which neither of us are.
So I'll probably keep wearing over-sized hoodies and worn out shoes and carrying a plastic grocery bag in place of a cute purse......and remember that MY apple didn't fall far from the tree either. (My dad wore a white t-shirt and jeans most EVERY day of his life, and was never concerned if his clothing, vehicle, and/or home were stylish or beautiful, as long as they were functional.)
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| My current running shoes (circa pre 2012??? or earlier....the gold and blue ribbons were from the Salt Lake Marathon 2013.....it was the first marathon after the bombing at the Boston Marathon, so all runners got gold and blue ribbons for their shoes to honor the bombing victims.....I think these shoes were already pretty worn out back then.) I also note that I have been wearing old frayed sweat pants with a couple of small holes in them this week to run in.....yep, I'm definitely "weird." |
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| My current "handbag" |
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| "low maintenance" Kaylee bathing in buckets on her mission |
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| Mom and Dad- Dad's birthday-note his attire (white t-shirt-which is unusually clean and free of cement- and jeans) |
