Day 18

Well, I've been at this for over two weeks and overall, it's going quite well. I'm feeling pretty good about finishing out the month without losing my mind or being irritated at my lack of choices. I think the creativity is the most fun part. Turning a scarf into a blouse and accessorizing a plain sundress so it's appropriate for a wedding has been a challenge, but one I'm happy to say I've risen to. It's funny to do laundry and see my stack be so small compared to everyone else's. Usually I spend all day, every Monday doing all the laundry (except for A.J. and Stacee's), but I can't always last a week on my meager wardrobe, so I've had to do some extra. That's been the hardest part. The other challenge has been not wearing the same thing to church every Sunday and Wednesday that I wore the previous week. I think I sound vain assuming that everyone notices what I wear and maybe vanity is a good enough reason to challenge myself this way.

Whittling down my wardrobe to only a handful of pieces has definitely made me much more grateful for the other pieces in my closet. I caught myself wistfully feeling one of my favorite blouses the other day, being tempted by its color and texture - so different than anything I've worn this month. It's easy for me to do this, knowing that it's only for a month. I keep thinking, though, about all the kids who are wearing shoes two sizes too small and homeless teens washing their clothes in park bathrooms. I keep thinking that there must be something that can be done, beyond raising awareness or being disciplined for a small portion of the year. I know there are clothes closets at non-profits and churches all over the city and thrift stores, which I know from experience keep low-income families clothed on a tight budget. Here's my question, though: if there are still kids, teens and adults without those resources, are we doing a good enough job? The same could be asked about food. Are we, as Americans who waste hundreds upon hundreds of pounds of goods and food PER PERSON each year, doing enough for the society we live in?

I know I'm not.