Oh boy!  Here we go!  To catch you up to speed, you may want to read the last post on the Seven Experiment and you will understand what is going on.This week, I chose to fast from clothes similar to how Jen did in her book, Seven, although just to be clear, she did this for one month.  I chose seven articles of clothing, one of those articles consisted of two pairs of shoes.  Here were my selections:

• 2 shoes:  Keens, boots
• black fleece pants
• maternity tank
• Capri work out pants
• 1 long sleeve maternity top
• 1 pair of maternity leggings
• 1 maternity tunic

I really didn’t think this would be that big of a deal.  I told myself, “clothes aren’t that big of a deal to me”, “I don’t care what I wear”.  And was I ever wrong!!By day two, I was so bitter that I couldn’t wear a necklace or earrings that I convinced myself to add them in.  And here is my reasoning:  if this was riding on a book deal (like what I assume was the case for Jen Hatmaker), I’d be more motivated. So there.  (Wow, what a bad attitude!)By day four, I was so tired of wearing the same pants and long sleeve shirt, I thought I may vomit.  I felt bored.  I didn’t realize how much I look forward to a different outfit each day.  Maybe I thought a little bit about the fact that there are people out there that would be ecstatic to have 7 articles of clothing, but overall, I continued to be selfish.Today is day seven.  I’m so excited to wear something different tomorrow.  Overall, I feel a bit confused by the week.  I’m wondering where I sit on the clothes continuum.  Do I obsess?  Is it too important to me?  I want balance in my life, not perfection.  I want to be more aware and I am interested in a perspective shift.As we were wrapping up, a couple of gals talked about their take aways and I felt inspired.  One gal in the group has chosen to purchase everything second hand for the next year.  Another has chosen to not purchase any new clothes for the next 6 months.So here is what I am thinking:  my absolute favorite store is J. Crew.  I could eat the Style Guide that arrives in my mail each month.  It just may be that I am bordering on obsession.  So….what if I gave up J. Crew for 6 months?  Oh my, can I do it?  And how would this continue to change my perspective (as long as I work on my bad attitude!)?  So I haven’t decided for sure, but I’m thinking about it...Jen reflects on Isaiah 1:18-19 towards the end of the week:

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord.  Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson they shall be like wool.”

OK, now I can breathe.  I feel better.  I am thankful for God’s graciousness.  Reading this passage helps me feel like I’m not being backed into a corner.  Maybe I DO need to reconsider clothing in my life:  Does it have a hold of me?  Do I medicate with it?  Do I find my worth in it?