Catching Idle Butterflies

14?!

You don't mind if I brag do you? If so, quit reading!

If not . . .

I realized about a month ago I had two choices: I could either go on a serious diet or buy new clothing for the writer's conference. I decided new clothing was the better route, because I plain could not motivate myself to eat less or better. Forget exercise!

I invited a friend, Wendy, to go shopping with me. I don't care to shop alone, and to have a second opinion on what I tried on would help me choose the right outfits.

I decided to spend $200 for three outfits (not including shoes. I'm sure Nada is smiling at that). At the end of the day I had my three outfits and ended up with 43 cents to spare. No kidding. I found some great deals including a $60 jacket for $30. Every store in the mall were holding clearance sales with goods as much as 70% off. I could have easily spent $450 for the same stuff had I gone at a different time.

But that's not why I'm proud of myself.

I first tried on size 12s, knowing I was no longer a 10. Some fit, some didn't, and the ones that didn't I tried 14s. They fit perfectly. I was so pleased I didn't mentally beat myself up for 'filling out' to a 14, a size I've never been before. The clothes I bought not only fit, but I look good in them. I do have to have a pair of pants altered because they're too long in the leg, but that's no big deal. I finally realized that size doesn't matter. A woman can look pretty, even beautiful no matter what her size.

Would I like to be a size 8 or even a 6 again? Sure, but that doesn't mean I can't look good now.