I'm Going To Stop Showering

Ok, so I'm not really going to stop showering.  But I'm thinking about it?  Why?  Well, because as I'm sure I'm not the only person in the world, my perception of myself doesn't seem to match that of the rest of the world.

On days where I'm feeling sloppy and icky and everything else, that's when someone will say to me, "Wow!  You look great.  Have you lost weight?"

The day I spent open to close volunteering at the carnival at the wee ones' school?  When I was spending hours at the customer service desk answering questions and running credit cards and whatever else came up, that's when a friend's husband comes up and tells me that he's impressed.  I look really "elegant" that day.  Go figure.

Or maybe I'm having a really bad hair day.  That's when someone will say that my hair looks amazing.

This is what my hair looks like on what I consider to be a good day.  It's not a "pretty" day all around, but my hair is behaving.  Nothing is sticking out in weird places.  There are no parts that are half curly and half not.  I don't have any wings around my head.  It isn't super poofy.  It's behaving.

This is not the day I get the compliments.  I get compliments on the day when I vlog quickly before I go walking with my friends.  What do I not do before I go walking?  Those are the mornings where I didn't shower and panic trying to fluff my hair into some semblance of normalcy before turning on the camera.  And I get the compliments then.  And when I go to meet my friends?  I get compliments from them on how awesome my hair looks.

So apparently my solution is to just stop showering, right?  I wonder if it would help if I stopped brushing my teeth, too....

I'm On A Mission...

… and I want you to join me!

On Friday, I had the annual alumni event for the consulting company I used to work for. It’s actually pretty fun. Anyone who’s ever worked there is invited back to the office (and Booz was founded in 1916, I believe) for appetizers and drinks and meeting up with old friends while making new ones. All in the aim of getting more business for those currently working there, of course (not that this is the stated aim or ever mentioned)!

Anyway, I took the train down this year since I didn’t want to deal with any of the traffic issues of driving into the city on a Friday afternoon in the summer while the Edens is under construction. Not surprisingly, I made a good dent in the newspapers I’m behind on. Sadly, I still have about a seven inch pile to go.

Anyway, my point is that a woman approached me on the escalators to the street.

Her: Excuse me.
I slid over to the side of the escalator so she could get by me (without looking of course – no one actually looks in Chicago)
Her: Excuse me? (more of a questioning tone)
Me (turning this time): Yes?
Her: Where did you get your top? It’s fantastic!
Me: Oh uhhh White House Black Market. Thanks!
Her: It’s really great; I love it!
Me: Actually, I got it last fall, so I can guarantee they don’t have this one anymore, but they’ve always got really great stuff.
Her: Thanks so much for the recommendation. I’ll definitely have to go check them out.

Not that I was having a bad day before that, but her giving me a compliment like that (and granted, it is one of my favorite tops) really made my day.

Then I got to thinking – because, really, what else is there to do while walking the streets in the Loop. I see things I like and admire on or about people all the time, but I rarely say anything. But if it gave me such a life on a not bad day, what would it do for someone who is having a bad day? And how hard is it?

The only downside I can see is someone being snooty about it, but really, that’s their loss and just provides more fodder for entertainment, right? But if I can find someone to compliment every day, how great would that be? Who’s with me?