It's Not Always Black and White

It's been a little while since I've written. I haven't been slacking, I promise. I just write better when I am passionate about something or when I feel I have something valuable to share with you all. I am more like Taylor Swift- when she goes through a break-up, you know you are going to hear some good new tunes from her. She takes her experiences and writes them with a melody. I take my experiences and share them on a blog-usually with an outfit. (Oh, and I am in no way comparing myself to Taylor Swift...)

Anyways, I have been doing some thinking lately. Black and white. Some people use that expression a lot. What does it really even mean? Black and white can refer to television or movies, photography or even print like in a newspaper. But what about life? I hear people all the time saying it's not always black and white or maybe it is black and white. This saying is referring to having two distinct choices in which one is clearly right and one is clearly wrong. I love talking to people who see everything in black and white-you know the kind where they can look it up in a manual and say, "See, here it is. In black and white-you must do this,You must make this choice." It would seem that their lives might be so much easier since they can look at something and see a clear choice.

But in life-sometimes it's gray. What if it is gray? What if there are extenuating circumstances revolving around a certain person or situation and it makes choosing so much harder? What if we have to take into account other items before making a choice and it gets mucked up? What if the choices blend together and the options are not clearly defined? 

Gray isn't always bad either. I remember when I used to be more black and white. I remember at work thinking that the handbook said it, so it must be that way. Or what about a decision based on the norm or what everyone else must be doing looked so easy to make based on that limited information. Then I had my son. Oh now life was not always black and white. There was not only gray, but there were so many other colors! Love will do that to you. It will knock you down and it's up to you to pick up the pieces. You think you made the right decision and then you see you were missing something. Maybe it was more information, maybe it was patience or maybe you loved so hard you were blind. 

Go with your instinct. Life isn't always black and white but it doesn't have to be either. Life should be gray- follow your heart and your dreams. People won't always understand your decisions but then you won't always understand theirs either. When you feel like giving up, try harder. You will get through this! Life is full of color and laughter and love and when you open yourself up to all of the possibilities, you will be amazed at the sheer brilliance and beauty of it. I am learning to do this every day myself.

Now, one way life is black and white is in fashion-it is one of my favorites! I love the simplicity to not have to wear color if I don't want to, which isn't that often... This outfit I wore today is one of my favorites-I love the way the skirt has stripes going two ways and I love the shape and design of it. I also love the crop top-I did size up so it wasn't too short and I could wear it to work and school. It is so comfortable and easy to wear and I already have a few other ways that I will mix and match these pieces.

Here are a few pictures of me out and about today in this outfit: 

Top and skirt- Eva Mendes for New York and Company (recent)
Shoes-Prabal Garung for Target (old)


Remember to take time and think about your decisions. Weigh all of the options-is it really black and white or is there some gray? How would I feel if the situation were reversed? I always try to take this into account as well. 

I hope you all had a fantastic Monday! 

Thanks for reading and following along with me!

Sandae