Naysayers, Cohorts & Wannabes (Privileged White Woman Stops Shopping for a Year)

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Editor’s Note: This is part-2 of a year-long, weekly series as author Trish Rohr embarks on a 366 day journey to own her life in a bigger and better way as she attempts the formidable task of a year without buying new clothes. See Part-1 Here

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“Happy New Year, neighbor! I read your blog post!”

“The whole family just read it – pulled it up on the phone. I have to tell you, right now I give you ….well… the over/under for me is two weeks. Eric has to be jazzed about this, by the way!”

366 days sans retail therapy. Less is the new more. Word travels fast – and so does the bookie business. Two weeks? You have to be kidding me.

“C’mon….Nordstrom sale…Target…Amazon…”

Heckling right out of the gate – nice.

NAYSAYERS

There are definitely a group of peeps who unabashedly have said no way. The naysayers don’t think I can do it, they know they couldn’t do and they have no idea why anyone would even want to do it. I totally get it. This crazy idea came out of the blue with zero planning. Six months ago I would have laughed. 4 weeks ago I would have pointed out my annual defeat in a yoga challenge of 62 practices in 62 days. I even pay to be a part of that every November and December and can’t keep it up! Too much happens from one day to the next and honestly, I am not a rigid person. And Lent…Lordy. Lent for me is always a bust. I finally changed that strategy to the “I’ll do good instead of giving something up…” cop-out.

You would think as a grown woman I could give up eating tater tots for 40 days….geesh.

So, naysayers, I hear you. Place your bets.

One item to note is that I have a latent, highly competitive, slightly bitchy side lurking under the sweet exterior. So keep telling me how hard it will be or where I will get tripped up. You might just be motivating me to get through those tricky Target aisles without another perfect white tank top.

COHORTS

Cohorts! God Bless You! You strong, beautiful, risky women who jumped right on board! My sidekicks, your reasons for doing this touched my heart. It is all about becoming the best we can be, right? If we have all made it through the first few weeks, then I think we are a success! Here’s to re-wearing, being content and giving the finger to every flash sale email that shows up in our inbox!!

WANNABES

Sweet Wannabes….bless your heart. Thank you for your words of support! You wished me luck and told me why you could never do this.

“I wouldn’t last one week…. Too hard, too long…I can’t resist Target…but the after Christmas sales…what if I need new underwear?”

I hear you, sistas. There is a turquoise blue hoodie sweatshirt at my yoga studio I WANT. Yesterday it jumped up, spun around and called my name the minute I walked in the door. I have a red one already and love it with all my heart. Perfect in every way – right length, right fit, right fuzz amount on the inside. A week ago I would have run straight over and made it mine, without a second thought or a bit of guilt. So I hear you. It isn’t easy.

I had to tell myself that one perfect sweatshirt was good enough – over and over until I safely passed by and rolled out my mat to work through that shit.

No matter if you are a naysayer, cohort or wannabe, it is my hope that this journey helps you get closer to finding more space for what matters and means the most in your life.

New clothes might not be “that thing” for you. But something is…

xo,

Trish

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Author Bio:

As a self-proclaimed Privileged White Woman, Trish’s humor, clarity and inspiration weaves a new view of how we find happiness. Using lessons she’s learned in the past 10 years since her best friend died unexpectedly from a brain tumor and her husband’s subsequent diagnosis with his own brain tumor five years later, Trish’s journey reminds us all to find our path, our compassion and, most importantly, to own our shit.

Follow her on Twitter.

Read her Blog.

Also see She’s Whiskey in a Teacup

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