Rebuilding Life In Confidence Boosting Apparel
“There was a time in my life when all I wanted more than anything else was peace. I eventually found it and one of the things that helped me arrive there was a simple blazer.” ~Steph
Going Off The Grid
It’s hard for me to believe that it was around this time 24 years ago when I lost everything. The situation was dire and one mistake could mean the difference between surviving or not.
With three small children in tow, I had serious misgivings. After months of creating a paper trail, filing police reports, an arrest, a hearing, it was the only way. We were foiled in our unplanned attempt to escape one month earlier. This time, I had to take drastic measures.
Careful planning was critical and asking two close friends to help me getaway kept me up at night. I was concerned for the safety of us all.
Every call I made had to be followed up with a call to a different number. Doing so ensured my original call couldn’t be traced. Even though I rehearsed the plan in my mind once the day arrived my nerves were on edge.
Due to my chaotic personal life, I gave two week’s notice at my job because I feared for my co-workers’ safety. The only way to ensure their safety was to leave. Calling off work on my last day was necessary so that I could monitor things at home. I would need to tie up any loose ends before making a hasty departure in the wee hours of the following morning.
Little Things Mean The Most
Life is different when you lose almost everything you worked so hard for and it changes your perspective. Small things chatting with women who shared similar experiences and being able to laugh meant so very much. It meant we were surviving.
Things I used to take for granted before arriving at the women’s shelter I still treasure. When you are in a living environment where you have to share everything time is crucial. Occasionally, I still get a little emotional when I take a shower because I’m so grateful for no time constraints.
Initially accepting donations of clothing and other necessities felt a little strange. But these things helped to create a sense of normalcy in a situation far from normal. My oldest son, who was in 1st grade at the time, was enrolled in an area grade school. Each day while he was in school I began the task of rebuilding our lives.
Living in a temporary environment with other women and children wasn’t easy but it motivated me in taking back our lives. Looking for housing, job, and daycare was just a few of the things I needed to do to get our lives back on track. The one item that helped me to keep it all together was a black blazer.
While I had little, my black blazer was a constant companion I continually wore when I had to take care of business. Aside from the versatility of this garment it also gave me a boost of confidence whenever I wore it. You know how they say “never judge a book by its cover?” Well for all intents and purposes while I was at one of the lowest points in my life no one outside was the wiser.
Though a couple of decades have passed since that tumultuous time, blazers continue to be one of my signature pieces. For me whenever I put on a blazer, and especially a black one, it’s all about business.
Following are 3 descriptions of my favorite black blazer ensembles:
- #1 – Black blazer, white tee or tank top, blue jeans, black bag & black heels
- #2 – Black blazer, print top, white jeans, camel bag, camel shoes & black sunglasses
- #3 – Black blazer, white sleeveless shell, black dress pants, black bag, red heels & sunglasses
Rebuilding Life Featured Image Description:
Four assorted black blazers. Differences among them are the length, sleeve length, collars, closures, and pockets.
If you or anyone close to you is a victim of domestic abuse there is help available. In the U.S. you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233. Or if it’s SAFE to do so, you can visit their website at www.thehotline.org.