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Fashion Lifestyle Uncategorized

Short Stories… A bit of a ramble along memory lane and sorting things out!!

January 21, 2020

The Long and the Short of it!!

I haven’t worn shorts in about twenty years.

I felt that my legs weren’t good enough and I’ve always been incredibly critical and unloving towards my own body.

Like so many women, I’ve spent my life at war with my body and with my perception of what my body should look like.

Since getting a breast cancer diagnosis – I had always hated my generous breasts too, although now looking at the scars on my chest I realise the error of my ways there – I’ve been treating my body with greater love and respect … I no longer take it for granted.

I’ve always been exceptionally physically healthy, strong and resilient.

I’ve always loved jumping out of bed early in the morning and rushing with plenty of oomph through my day.

When I was a kid living at home at my parent’s place I would be up before six in the morning and in the pool swimming laps – this went on from October until May .. and as a young adult it was off to the gym to lift some weights before work and then as a young Mum, and even an older Mum it was up and keeping my house in order with nappies hung on the line before 7, a place for everything and everything in its place.

Work it!!

At work I was the “go-to” person to get things done and I carried a lot of people and their problems close to my heart for far too long, pushing myself and my health and doing what I would never have expected others to do, until it became clear this was no longer working for me – if it ever had!!

I developed chronic anxiety and out of that came two heart attacks from a rare condition known as cardio arterial spasm, where the heart arteries spasm, when I’m under emotional stress, stopping the flow of blood to the heart and causing a heart attack…. my body could no longer be pushed, it seemed!

But I’m nothing if not persistent, so I got treated and worked to manage the condition, only to wind up with breast cancer!!

Aah!! Oprah – how I do miss you!!

So I used to love to tune into my therapy sessions with the extraordinary Oprah .. how good it used to be to see a woman of colour interviewing all manner of people and modelling what it is to be a fine global citizen with a wonderful mind, a beautiful spirit and an even better attitude – and being one of the world’s top earners into the bargain! Oprah I will always love and admire you!!

Anyway, she had a show once where she was saying the universe tells you when you’re going in the wrong direction, first with a tap on the door, then a knock, then if you don’t answer it, well the door gets busted down!! And of course this is what happened to me!

So now I wear the bloody shorts and don’t worry about the imperfections …

I’m making peace with my bod!!

The Power of Three plus one!!

There are four different pairs of shorts and I styled them all a bit differently, although I think the look with my old salmon coloured jacket is probably my favourite – I think it turned out really smashing!!

Shorts are perfect for the crazy hot Aussie climate and they really do suit the more laid back lifestyle I have – or want to have – at this point in my life!

Of course, when I’m checking on my bees this is not the look I go for!!

Thank you for joining me in my little corner of the web and I’d love to hear your thoughts on some of the things I’ve discussed here or come in on my Instagram account donnadoesdresses and share your thoughts …

Donna πŸ§šπŸ»β€β™€οΈβ€οΈπŸ

  • Nancy
    January 21, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    You have had to go through a lot! It makes you look at life totally different doesn’t it. Sometimes ‘s I look at my friends and think : you live now! Enjoy! But I can’t blame them. I was just like that. You can wear shorts perfectly!

    • donnadoesdresses
      January 22, 2020 at 3:45 am

      Oh thank you for your support – I knew you would understand with the health issue that you have touched on in the past!! And yes, living every moment is important!! Enjoy the rest of your week!! πŸ™πŸΌβ€οΈπŸ

  • Fashion Schlub
    January 21, 2020 at 11:17 pm

    Amen! We should all be appreciating our bodies for what they do for us, not worried about they look like!

    PS – I love the salmon jacket outfit, too.

    Bettye
    https://fashionschlub.com

    • donnadoesdresses
      January 22, 2020 at 3:43 am

      Yess!! Totally agree – I think I’ve been a slow learner but all’s well that ends well!! Thank you for your kind comment, Bettye!! πŸ§šβ€β™€οΈπŸ™πŸΌπŸ

  • tom
    January 22, 2020 at 12:29 am

    Bounding out of bed is overrated, crawling out underrated, but necessary to get to the bathroom ASAP. Now that you have whipped the health challenges, it is all good.

    • donnadoesdresses
      January 22, 2020 at 3:42 am

      Hehehe!! I gather you’re a crawler, not a bounder and that’s ok, each to their own!! Thank you for your kind comment!! πŸ§šβ€β™€οΈβ€οΈπŸ

  • Urska
    January 22, 2020 at 7:15 am

    Oh Donna, if you are something, then you are a fire, you lights up every aspect of your life through such an unbelievable circumstance of life. We should all acknowledge that right now and take a bette care of ourselves. I find myself waking up and the first think of a new day is some bad experience from yesterday, from the past. I will read your words every day, over and over again, until my mind becomes truly free. And i wish that for you too. I admire your courage and confidence now and that is how women must be feeling, beautiful no matter what. You are an inspirational woman, i will be forever thankful for your words here and cherish your smile πŸ€πŸ€πŸ€πŸ€πŸ€ love πŸ’•

    • donnadoesdresses
      January 22, 2020 at 7:28 am

      Oh what a beautiful words, Urksa!! I so appreciate them and wish to support you and all women in caring and giving themselves love as they would their family, friends or work colleagues!! I am so grateful to have met you on Instagram and to share my little corner of the world with you, so far away!! Have a wonderful Wednesday and thank you again for your love and support as you inspire me also!! πŸ™β€οΈπŸπŸ’‹πŸ’‹πŸ’‹

  • Jonathan Caswell
    January 24, 2020 at 8:12 pm

    AS A MAN—AND WHO CARES ABOUT THEM ANYWAY—EXCEPT CERTAIN ONES πŸ˜€ I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT IN SHORTS, YOU, DONNA, HAVE NO PARTS TO BE ASHAMED OF AS FOR ME, I STILL DON’T LIKE MY BELLY, BUT I ACCEPT IT AS PART OF ME!

    • donnadoesdresses
      January 24, 2020 at 9:20 pm

      Thank you for your kind comment!! Have a great weekend!! πŸ§šπŸ»β€β™€οΈβ€οΈπŸ

      • Jonathan Caswell
        January 25, 2020 at 4:26 pm

        You also, most admired one! πŸ˜€

  • Autumn Zenith
    January 28, 2020 at 5:32 am

    Goodness, is that true regarding how the universe will start off a gentle simmer, progress to a hearty boil, and eventually spill right over the pot and all across your life – so to speak. I’ve been on the receiving end and watched it happen to many others, too. Sometimes we can’t see the signs or warnings, the lessons or help we’re trying to be given until critical mass is reached, but I do find that with age and experience, doing so becomes easier – as does accepting what it is the universe wants me to know, do, change, etc.. There are many perks to aging (despite what much of the mainstream media would have us believe) that that is most definitely one of them in my books.

    You’re radiantly beautiful and a huge inspiration to so many, dear Donna. May you continue to love and appreciate your wonderful body all the more with each passing day.

    β™₯ Autumn

    • donnadoesdresses
      January 28, 2020 at 8:04 am

      Oh, how wonderful to hear from you, dear Autumn!! I hold your words in such esteem and appreciate your thoughts on the discussion I have raised in this post – and you’re right I didn’t see the lesson and quite frankly wasn’t ready to let go of a life that simply wasn’t serving me anymore!!
      Ageing has certainly had many benefits of wisdom and I so appreciate exactly where I am in this minute of my life!
      Thank you for your kindness – it really does mean the world to me!!
      Donna πŸ§šβ€β™€οΈβ€οΈπŸ

  • Laurie
    January 28, 2020 at 9:51 am

    Yes. Make peace with your bod! I think you look great in shorts Donna. I love the blue and white one piece xx

  • makeupmuddle
    January 30, 2020 at 1:21 pm

    These are all such cute outfits! I really love those shorts, I wish I had the confidence for shorts but my legs are like tree trunks hehe xo

    Makeup Muddle

    • donnadoesdresses
      January 30, 2020 at 7:01 pm

      That is so kind of you to say that you liked the outfits!! Wear what you feel good and happy in! It’s just so hot here – expecting well in the 40Β°C today – that the shorts make sense for a large part of the year, but I still feel uncertain wearing them compared to my more covered garments. I appreciate your sweet comment and hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
      Donna πŸ§šπŸ»β€β™€οΈβ€οΈπŸ

    • donnadoesdresses
      February 1, 2020 at 12:25 am

      You’re very kind – I’m just going to love the body I’ve got and appreciate the fact that it gets me around at this stage!! Wear what you love and you feel comfortable in – and thank you for your comment … I was unable to comment on your post yesterday but will try again, technology hates me …
      Donna πŸ§šπŸ»β€β™€οΈβ€οΈπŸ

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