The holiday season is the perfect time to bring out the sequins! We went to a friend’s place in Brooklyn for an afternoon (and evening) of celebrating on Saturday. Some people wore jeans, and there were a few ugly sweaters. The hostess put on a Hanukkah-themed sweater dress. And I wore a sequined top with a bright red skirt! While I was still a little overdressed, I toned it down a bit by layering my sequined top over a button down shirt and wearing flats. Even though I wear a lot of midi skirts to work, this red one felt special. You know I love red, and tiny pleats are perfect for twirling!
So…last weekend, I got a very bad cough. It’s definitely the worst I’ve had in years, and no fun at all. I felt terrible and I wasn’t sleeping well, and yet, I went to the office for at least part of every day last week. After a few days of this, my boss kindly reminded me that it’s okay to stay home if I’m sick. It made me think about how much unnecessary pressure I put on myself. My body was telling me very clearly that it was struggling, and I still felt guilty not doing things. Would I be letting my team down if I missed work? Would my audience disengage if I didn’t post on the blog or Instagram? How could I not be going to the gym two weeks before vacation? But, guess what? I came home early a few days and didn’t miss anything essential at the office. The content I did manage to post got great engagement. And, I realized that I’d rather get rid of this cough before vacation than have a little bit more muscle tone. The point I want to make is that we all do too much and don’t cut ourselves enough slack. Self-care isn’t just about weekly face masks and ending toxic relationships. It’s about giving yourself permission to heal when you need it, and realizing that missing a few things in the short term is worth it to take care of yourself. Just in case you need a reminder too!
Earrings: Kate Spade (similar), Button Down Bodysuit: J.Crew, Sequin Top: J.Crew (similar), Skirt: Target, Tights: old (similar), Shoes: NY&Co (similar)