It's true. I wore this same green dress for 100 days. Why? It started by doing something I have done before, supporting Dressember (and raising awareness for human trafficking) by wearing a dress daily during December. I did that in this dress in December. Then, things evolved from a monthly purpose-driven challenge to a 100-day one that gave me clarity and helped me love my body better. Wool& is the maker of the Sierra sustainable dress I chose. Made of Merino wool, which is antimicrobial, and, as a friend who turned me onto this dress put it, it is pretty "magical" overall. The company has a challenge for you to wear one of their items for 100 days, and upon completion, you get 100 dollars towards your next purchase. That's brilliant because I have told everyone about my magical dress. And with good reason! Yes, I changed for workouts, yoga, and a couple of fancy events, but I wore my green dress for 8+ish hours daily per the challenge. I even wore it to bed when I had Strep. It has been worn over and under all kinds of things I already had. And, yes, it's been washed (every couple of weeks, just because), and it still looks brand new. Merino wool is magical; I am a believer. My word for this year is Simplify. For this challenge, I wore what was already in my closet (I love supporting local boutiques and have some fantastic pieces from them that showed up consistently with my dress). I also thrifted a few "new" things to wear with my green dress as I simplified my closet. Here's some of what I learned and why you've seen me in my green Sierra for the past 100 days: • My focused attire helped me eliminate what I no longer wanted and did not fit over the past 100 days. My closet (and getting dressed) is so much less stressful now! There is less negative self-talk about what doesn't fit because it's no longer there. Indeed, I'm not the only human who falls weak with self-talk. Overall, my cleaned-out closet has improved my mindset and allowed me to focus on more important things, like ministry work and turning in my next manuscript! • Well-made Merino Wool pieces have great longevity and are cared for reasonably quickly and easily by spot cleaning and airing out overnight. While they aren't "cheap," they also aren't fast-fashion; they are made in small batches and made to last. Invest in a quality wardrobe capsule, and you're set! I am consigning and selling my excess clothes to buy more Merino. • I LOVE not doing so much laundry. I repeat, less laundry. Merino rarely stinks. You hang it up (inside out) to air out overnight, and it is fresh the next day. • Women of a certain age know this one: hot flashes are a real thing. You may not know that wearing Merino wool has minimized the impact of hot flashes for me! It's been a tremendous benefit (and again, less laundry!) • Merino wool is sustainable, and that means good for our earth. Yes, please! Buying items that I know some of how and where they were made and that they will last matters to me. • Being kind to my body as it changes (one with more curves and those hot flashes) in mid-life has been easier with this magical and comfortable dress. I prefer wearing natural fabrics now, and my skin can tell a difference. • Wearing a uniform is freeing! Brilliant people like Steve Jobs do this. Don't be surprised to discover my new capsule wardrobe/uniform system will be made mainly of Merino. 🐏 There is a real benefit to my mind and spirit when I limit daily decisions. Try it. It's good for the soul and a great way to find peace! • My decluttering weakness concerns accessories, so don't make me clean out my purses, bags, or scarve...yet. I will get there. • Surprisingly, there's a support group for this challenge. I have made new friends as I found a wonderful group of wool lovers inspired to live more purposefully with their clothing choices. As part of my commitment to Simplify, I plan to wear natural fibers like Merino whenever possible. I will strive to be kinder to myself, my earth, and my body with my choices and keep my closet decluttered while smartly supporting local, sustainable, and thrifted goods. This 100 day dress challenge has been a fun soul care experiment for me! I have been asked if I will do this again. Yes, there is a 30-day challenge you can complete once per year with Wool&. The 100 days is one time only, and I don't know if I would do that again. Maybe. Would you? Do something good for yourself, someone else, or the earth today; it will help you feel good, too!
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Creator God, thank you for creating me.
May you make something beautiful out of the messy times in my life. May I discover freedom from my own expectations and cling only to you. May I feel beautiful within myself - body and spirit. May I meet you in these 40 days to come. May you remind me you are always near. Amen
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Happy New Year! Can I be honest with you? December was a challenging month for my health, and when you live with auto-immune disorders, the slightest shift can have a considerable impact. So, I was thrilled for the calendar to turn over and welcome a new year feeling better. And yesterday, I exercised for the first time in weeks (beyond walking this sweet dog of ours). Yay! So yes, fresh starts are great, but you don't need to be an "all-new-you" overnight for this to be your best year. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! What if you have everything you need already? Even if you don't feel your best! What if these bumps in the road help us lean into caring for ourselves best - body and soul? What if they help us figure out what matters most? I am grateful that December allowed for some family time with our son home from college. I'm excited about the coming spring semester of serving in campus ministry. And I'm soooo close to submitting my next manuscript (wow, book 3!). And yes, I've been wearing this same green dress for 40 days and am excited for 60 more. Yep, I'm wearing this same dress for 100 days on purpose. Why? Well, there are a few reasons if you'll let me explain. But the main one is to Simplify my closet and my choices. I was winding down 2023 with Purpose (purpose was my guiding word last year) when I realized I was overwhelmed with the changes in my body this past year and the clutter in my closet. My word for 2024 found me - Simplify. You may remember, I have participated in Dressember before - you wear a dress daily in December to raise awareness for human trafficking. I loved that journey and the cause! Then I had a friend complete a 100-day dress challenge with Wool&, and I was intrigued by the concept but didn't feel brave enough to consider it then. Their motto is to "live simply" because more stuff doesn't equal more happiness. Wow. Yes, that's true! I felt brave and signed up. Well, I've already discovered that merino wool is good for my soul! Here's the scoop: If you wear a Wool& dress for 100 days in a row (and document it with photos), you get a $100 credit toward your next dress (and trust me, I am now hooked). Wool is temperature-regulating and anti-microbial, which has a bonus beyond hot flashes - less laundry. I also want to be a more conscious consumer, and this one forest green dress has already shifted so much about how I live. I am thrilled that my forest green dress carries me from a year of Purpose to a year of Simplify(ing). I didn't expect that wearing a dress could be a spiritual discipline. I've had a guiding word each year for over a decade. It's a prayerful part of my Rule of Life that helps guide my year with intention. Whether or not you have a word, I hope you will pray and meditate on the year ahead for yourself. And I'd love to do this together. Will you join me for Yoga & Prayer in our online community on Thursday, January 11, 2024, at 7 PM Central (it will also be recorded)? The Peace Seekers Community (our online space where we connect) is super affordable (less than $5/month), and there's even an app! By joining us as a Peace Seeker, you make the Exploring Peace Meditations podcast financially possible. Yes, all the income from the community pays for the podcast's production, hosting, etc. And you get perks for being a member in our community - like this hour-long yoga class and access to my entire recorded yoga library. Will you practice yoga with me and set your intentions with God for 2024? Keep the podcast possible, and let's practice yoga and pray together in 2024 with intention. I probably won't wear my forest green dress for teaching yoga but I can't wait to be with you! You have everything you need for 2024. Why not claim that with intention? |
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Whitney R. Simpson Exploring Peace Ministries, LLC |