Look good in sweats

My Linus hoodie

I'm sitting in a CLE (continuing legal education class) listening to a lecture on work-life balance. The lecturer speaks about how lawyers lead other professionals in depression, anxiety, alcoholism and suicide (dentists used to lead in suicide).

I'm paying attention, but taking her advice. So here I am thinking about fashion. I showed up to class in sweats. It is Saturday after all.

I'm in my comfort sweats...oversized UNC hoodie (it is like Linus's blanket...I love it) and gray sweats. I look around the room and see people in casual attire of various sorts. Most are dressed well, not too casual at all. Kinda stuffy if you ask me. It is Saturday morning, people!!!

One guy here caught my eye. He is dressed really well, yet casual. His clothes fit nicely. They look tailored, but not tightly tailored.

(The speaker is now on the "false self syndrome". It deals with how people get trapped in roles they play, identifying too much with the role we play while hiding our true feelings and showing something more socially acceptable. We lose touch with our true selves and put on masks to fit in. You go along to get along in order to succeed. Hmmm... I see that often...)

So the guy has on a denim shirt that is starched to perfection. You would think it looks odd, but it doesn't. I think it is just denim colored. And he has on very casual pants...tailored again. He looks great in his casual attire.

(She's now talking about how the legal practice has been turned into one large commodities trade. She hit a nerve when she spoke of how "tomorrow never comes", basically putting off happiness to succeed. She said there is room for movement and time to stop and smell the roses.)

I like what the guy is wearing, but I wonder how comfortable he is...hmmm he may be very comfortable. I mean it is very possible for someone to look good in sweats while feeling good in sweats. (Yeah..,he isn't wearing sweats per se, but you get what I'm saying, right?)

(Now the speaker is on how you should do the things you love. Practicing law is a marathon, not a sprint. She says to do meaningful things outside of law. Honey, I agree!!! People often wonder why I am not like other attorneys... This is why! I have dealt with stress and depression, and I refuse to deal with them again. Dealing with the constant stress of other people's problems will in deed grind you down. You have to set boundaries. I had to learn this part about boundaries. For a long time I allowed my clients to treat me like an on call therapist. Bad move. She's saying you have to do things to transition out of work to home... She calls it putting on the stretchy pants. LOL! Now you see why I'm wearing my Linus hoodie.)

I have concluded that you can look good in sweats. If you feel good, you look better. I smile when I'm in my sweats. Today I'm not in my cute sweats, but I'm still smiling. LOL

(Funny I'm writing about fashion, and now the speaker is on The Devil Wears Prada...)