The Story of the Cat Dress
This isn't really a story about a dress, but first let me tell you about the dress. The dress was a catalyst for awareness of a long running pattern of self doubt and habitual joy squashing, not living in the moment, and a dependency on external validation. All of that from a dress. I just wanted to buy a dress for a wedding. I wandered into a funky vintage shop and almost immediately I spotted this dress with cats on it! (I love cats!!) Looking at it made me happy. (Joy!) I HAD to try it on. (Excitement!) I loved how it looked and I loved how I felt in it. (Exuberance!) The fact that it had cheeky little Siamese cats on it made it that much better. In that dressing room, my eyes lit up and I was smiling. (I love this dress! I can't wait to wear this dress!) By the time I got home, my joy gave way to concern. (Doubt!) Should I wear this? (Fear!) What will people think? How will I 'look'? (Insecurity!) The other dress I had picked out for the family wedding i...