Taking time, trying tunics
One of my favourite little books is "Take Your Time: Finding Balance in a Hurried World" by the late Eknath Easwaran, meditation teacher.
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| Eknath Easwaran |
In India, his mother served a tray of chai, the same tea every afternoon– and each person loved it. Our preferences, Easwaran says, are only habits.
We mistake our likes and dislikes for deep-seated values. Easwaran has other insights about the relationship between mindfulness and the senses, but during this move, I thought often of this story. At first I missed "my" coffee made from "my" beans, "my" stove, even "my" view.
Sometime during this second week, I realized that instead, the move offers an opportunity to release habits, and perhaps not acquire such rigidity with new ones.
Switching things up slows time, which is a positive effect when, at nearly 63, I sense the limits to my lifespan ever more keenly.
Switching things up slows time, which is a positive effect when, at nearly 63, I sense the limits to my lifespan ever more keenly.
That doesn't mean I've forsaken regular activities like yoga; but I feel grateful that a class serves my health, rather than automatically rushing there because it's 5:00 pm. on Thursday, "my usual" time for yoga, and then thinking about what we'll have for dinner during the class.
Easwaran asks his students to consider whether the choice simply meets a sensory pleasure (okay but superficial) or nourishes a deeper value, such as health, community or service.
Will all this be temporary? Maybe, but I hope the effects of a move linger.
And this new life is not all about matters of the spirit. There's also the freedom of easy dressing now that spring's fully here. Tunic-cut tops, easy, cool and polished when running errands, dress up in the evening with earrings and perhaps a change of shoe. Here are some I like. They're a friend to those who prefer not to show the entire arm, gentle with the waist, and good ones are cut well at the armhole to flatter the torso.
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| Poetica tunic |
The Canadian textile designer Virginia Johnson offers soft, light summer tunics via her online site, perfect for lounging but not too sheer for casual wear. Shown, Poetica tunic in Mountain Pool blue; also available in grey, $248.
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| Tao tunic |
I've always longed for anything from Brigitte Singh, one of the world's top block-printers. This Tao tunic, from Devotion, is £140; the site has other styles, and sizing is a 1/2/3 scale (S/M/L).
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| Embroidered silk |
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| Denim in a tunic |
A departure from ethnic effects: MIH Jeans' denim tunic, cool over pants, leggings or a skirt. $225 from netaporter.
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| Posh by Soft Surroundings |
Soft Surroundings Posh Tunic has a Palm Beach vibe and a bargain store price tag ($69.95); also in white with black trim, and colours; in Misses and Women's sizes.
Hope these ideas bring you ease and happiness.
Comments
It would fit in to my basic wardrobe and not break the bank.
Easwaran's book sounds like a worthy read...it's been far too long since I have read anything so inspiring as to have an affect on my day to day living.
I'll see if the Library has a copy.
Wish I could slow down time!
It makes sense that any kind of change provides an opportunity for releasing habits. The style quest I'm engaged is definitely offering that opportunity as I learn more about how I've been living and questioning habits formed over the years.
Hostess: It's a little book, the kind of thing you'd place in a guestroom. I return to it time and again.
LPC: If we view habits merely as preferences it also frees us from judgments about discipline and what one of my teachers calls "achievement disorder".
Anonymous: I find they suit hourglass shapes if not too long- just at high hip and (as on anyone) cannot be too boxy at the bust. Some tunics have bust darts or they can be added.
Some women wear a tunic that's too baggy, and yes, that is dreadful on an hourglass- and not that great on s narrower figure either.
Alexandra: In the back of my mind I'd hoped to be a (vastly) "better me" but then something about that lofty goal scared me. So I just thought of a few behaviours I wanted to change, and tried to ease those in. As the old saying goes "You take yourself with you".
Chicatanyage: Virginia Johnson has acquired quite a celebrity following- good eye!
Susan Tiner: I think it's really important and revivifying to change one's image even if it's a new colour lipstick. At the same time, I also buy the "know what works for you and stick with it" approach, and am playing with that contradiction now.
Your post makes me feel much better about my tendency to like anything I am given, and to enjoy whatever happens, which I used to think was evidence of a wishy-washy character. Thanks for the thoughts.
I found a French tunic not too long ago: denim-blue batik print with metallic-embroidered dark red placket. Hoping to wear it with narrow white jeans.
C.
0arsha: Wonder if the current culture, so loaded with marketing messages about what we "must" have, transmits the judgment of "wishy washiness" when one is happy with whatever one's given- when really it is a most desirable quality.
Easwaran was Hindu, but the idea of freedom from likes and dislikes runs through many traditions.
So hard to find nice tunics! Many are see-through. There's a navy/white at LLBean that looks OK.
http://www.eileenfisher.com/EileenFisher/Shop_By_Item/ShopByCategory/Value_Product_130577311309914514037/PRD_S1IZS-T2127M/Scoop+Neck+Tunic+with+Elbow+Sleeves+in+Linen+Jersey+with+Sequins.jsp?bmLocale=en_US
A tunic sounds wonderful. I have difficulty finding cool clothes to wear during these hot and humid days. This might be my answer (along with losing the weight I've regained...)