needs and wants

It's only day 3 and I'm noticing that my attention and focus has completely shifted from being concerned about my outer appearance.  Don't get me wrong I took the time to style my hair nicely today and while my make up is usually minimal I made a point to put an extra coat of mascara on just to brighten my look. I mean when it comes to narrowing my wardrobe down you would have thought I would have picked more COLOR instead I ended up with black & white, black, white, denim, more denim, black, brown and one colorful print....so this is a realization after the fact and one I'll have to live with for the next few weeks.  Hopefully I can get creative!

Today has been a normal day at work, nothing out of the norm other than I'm feeling calm and completely content wearing clothes I've had for more than 2 years and my go-to-tennis shoes I've had for 8! It's funny how label obsession and fashion trends can blind you from the things we're supposed to be focused on.  I can remember spending mornings just wasting minutes trying on different looks only to be scrambling to get to work on time.  I'm fortunate that as of this past summer my job has instituted a more laid back and casual work attire, but I will say my 7 articles are definitely still items I would find harder to make "work" if we didn't have such a casual environment.  With that said I think this challenge is certainly going to vary in difficulty depending upon your daily environment whether you're work environment is your home, a volunteer organization, a professional office setting with a strict dress code or a casual office setting with no dress code.  I'm definitely thinking of the other women in our group who do have to dress up. 

Funny tidbit.....I texted a pic of a new dress I got in the mail today from Zara to a girlfriend and her simple reply was "Are you breaking the rules by trying on new clothes?!"  I got a kick out of it and I'm happy to see she's holding me accountable.  No, I will not be wearing the dress until well after our fast has been completed BUT her candid approach to my picture really made me think about the dress and whether or not I actually NEEDED it.  It wasn't an astronomical purchase in fact it was a sale item, but it really got me thinking and questioning if I even should keep it. Well the obvious answer is NO I don't NEED it.  But, is it an item that I've purchased for the right reasons and will I get great return on it. I'm still on the fence.....but I promise if 7 wasn't happening I would have gladly taken the package home and probably thrown it on a hanger without even giving it a second thought. 

1Timothy 6:6 & 8 says “Now godliness with contentment is great gain… And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.”  So while food and clothing will make us content there is nothing about an abundance of food or clothing that will make us content.  I'm starting to see now why Jen chose food and clothing as 2 of the 7.  The purpose of the fast is to understand while we need food and clothes to survive, we don't need every shade or patterned shirt, or extravagant meals and spreads to satifsy our essential needs.  The fast is an opportunity to challenge us in the most basic form.  Today I not only see my wasteful spending, but I see where my investments could have gone to cloth someone else who may be less fortunate and even more importantly it's helped me to appreciate and give thanks for what I do have. 

                                                                
                                                     Day 3....yes that's my dress turned scarf!