It went something like this…
Wily Old Irish Counsellor : “ when was the last time you bought something nice for yourself?”
John: “I bought myself theatre tickets last week”
Wily Old Irish Counsellor: “ something to wear” she countered quickly
John: “ erm…….erm…I’m not sure”
Wily Old Irish Counsellor “ Something that made you feel good” she fingered her bright red scarf as a kind of metaphor
John: I can’t remember
Silence
More silence
But voices in my head saying
You don’t deserve anything nice !
You’d only ruin it!
Reading the room the Wily Old Irish Counsellor said “ Why wouldn’t you warrant nice clothes?”
And my silence spoke volumes.
Today I went to Mostyn Gallery and I bought an Elin Manon scarf
One of my clients noticed it today and said it was Very Me
I laughed and agreed with her before we moved on
Nice scarf!
ReplyDeleteIt's good that your Wily Old Irish Counsellor has taken residence in your head so you heard her whisper, "Nice scarf! It is so you that you should buy it. Why? You're worthwhile and always have been."
Hugs!
I think you were actually there at the gallery with me
DeleteThat would have been fun!
DeleteHugs!
Very nice scarf, see, someone gave you a well deserved compliment. Now some very nice shoes. I don't mean nurses Crocs. Nice comfortable shoes. XX gigi
ReplyDeletePerhaps a Christmas gift lol
DeleteAnd eyeglasses with style, not from Amazon. You deserve to look your best! ♥️♥️♥️
Deletevery smart looking!
ReplyDeleteI loved it and it was so soft
DeleteDo you need one or more soft neck warming scarfs in other colors or patterns? You deserve a variety!
DeleteHugs!
That made me cry
ReplyDeleteLee
Why ?🩷🩷🩷
DeleteVery natty John with a poignant back story and of course you are worth it, enjoy. Jan in Castle Gresley
ReplyDeleteThank you Jan xx
DeleteAnd as well as looking stylish, it'll keep the chill wind off your neck! Nice that someone noticed, but that's not really important, it's just for you, because you're worth it! xx
ReplyDeleteWith my plain new blue jumper I looked every bit acounsellor
DeleteBoth your wily old irish counselor and your patient are right. The voices inside your head are wrong. Tell them to fuck off:)
ReplyDeleteBy buying the scarf I did just that x
DeleteSartorial elegance suits you!
ReplyDeleteI thank you🩷🤪
DeleteEvery sympathy, John. I am just the same. Tell yourself you are going for a new you......and new gear is Christmas presents to yourself!
ReplyDeleteI needed to say , I deserve that scarf
DeleteIm very interested in why you can buy nice things for your home but not to wear.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, enjoy your lovely new accessory!
It’s all about self image kylie
DeleteWell, I agree with your Irish Counsellor and your client. You are worthy of nice things and the scarf looks nice on you.
ReplyDeleteWill Jay
Jaunty?
DeleteYou are worthy, treat yourself like the treasure you are. Loving yourself, opens the door to love.
ReplyDeleteAnd open to a nice scarf….ieven folded it when I got home
DeleteI'm 70 and only just learning to buy myself nice things.
ReplyDeleteHigh 5
DeleteIt is a lovely scarf and suits you! I agree with the Wiley Irish Counsellor that we all need to buy something nice as a treat for ourselves, every now & again! Even if it is from a charity shop! So glad you treated yourself it boosts morale no end!
ReplyDeleteIt’s a reflexion of self worth
DeleteReflection even
DeleteHas Eleanor seen it yet?
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful and you look so confident and happy in it. You deserve the best. It is so pleasing to see you doing well.
ReplyDeletelizzy x
It looks great on you.
ReplyDeleteWell,yay, John!!!
ReplyDeleteShe knows you well!
ReplyDeleteLove your scarf! Cali
ReplyDeleteLooking good!
ReplyDeleteweavinfool
Love the scarf and thank you - you know why!
ReplyDeleteXxx
DeleteIt looks good and feels good. And it absolutely suits you.
ReplyDeleteI would rather go out half-naked than without a scarf. Your new one looks very chic.
ReplyDeleteNice work! Beautiful scarf and it suits you perfectly.
ReplyDeleteYou can't remember when you last bought something to wear? What about the new sweaters you mentioned recently?
ReplyDeleteThey were utilitarian , and this post was set in 2023
DeleteYou said you bought new sweaters when you became a counsellor, it was to be your new image, how you thought a coounsellor should look.
DeleteBlack and white sigh
DeleteHmm, John. Got me to thinking. I do buy nice things for myself, just not really clothes. ( I LOVE shoes, I mean LOVE them, and must have all the shoes. I love art supplies, and must have all the supplies.) I live in ratty tee shirts and yoga pants, or in summer, shorts and skorts. I ruin most any shirt - with paint, food, glue or something. When it's time to go places with friends, I have to find the least ratty shirt, fret about it, but say fuck it and off I go. My thoughts are that I am retired, why do I need a whole wardrobe like I had when I worked in an office? Perhaps I am too far on the other side now! I do think it's a reflection of self worth. My Hubs has a wardrobe like NO man I've ever seen, and always looks so well put together. And here I am, a sloppy thing most days. Maybe I need a few pretties, so I don't feel like a character in a Dickens novel when I leave the house.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very nice scarf. I'm knitting myself a jumper at the moment, it's not particularly smart but it's cosy and warm, a treat to myself, we all need that x
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
I can relate. I once balked at getting an expensive jacket for Christmas as I felt it would be more of a burden than anything I would really get any joy out of.
ReplyDeleteYou really do have to love a counsellor that can read your mind and fill in the blanks. Lovely scarf ... the beginning of a whole new image perhaps? As long as you go back to scruffs at home so not too much gets spilled on the new togs. ;-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on this milestone! But I have to warn you to get it into a drawer when you get home - cats can/do major damage to knitwear. Ask me how I know...
ReplyDeleteA few solid color jumpers and a handful of scarves and cowls make for a very nice wardrobe for work or elsewhere. I still go for my oldest ratty sweatshirts when at home ha!
ReplyDeleteI wear what makes me feel me, sometimes I get comments - usually positive. You can tell when I'm not in a good place because I stop wearing things I like.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. It resonated with me so much. I buy work clothes and things for the house and that’s it.
ReplyDeleteI’ve just treated myself to a ridiculous (long coveted) pair of sequined Dr Martens because of your writing.
Wore them on the staff night out last night and I felt fabulous - I may have looked like mutton dressed as lamb but I didn’t care. ❤️