730 things — Day 50 of 365

Increasingly, in recent years, I've grown to be what you might call jaded. 

Conventional expressions of religion bore me, when they are separated from the practice of the way they proclaim. Self-help gurus don't (help me).

I prize beyond measure those very few teachers of truth whose soul shines clear like a ray of morning sun — those people who live with unadorned and humble authenticity. They restore me to myself. They comfort me. They lift me up.

One such person is Dee Williams. There's not a huge amount about her online, but here's a video where she offers her perspective on life, and I commend it to you.

What a shining soul, eh? A porch light left on to guide you home.

Well, today I am moving on from my life a couple of items that surprised me by leaving — because I was sure I wanted to keep them; a linen jacket and a cord skirt.

They fit me, there's nothing wrong with them, I thought I wanted them.

I thought the skirt would allow me to look presentable at a formal occasion. I thought if I ever have to speak in public it would be handy to have a tailored jacket.

But I've come to feel that I'm done with formal occasions now, and if I'm not acceptable as I am then I'd rather not go there at all. I no longer want personas, I just want my clothes to be clothes. And I don't think I'll be speaking in public any more. Selective mutism begins to shut me down when I have to do that and fighting against it takes all my strength and a bit more that I don't have. I think these clothes were made for the person I once was, but they have no relevance for who I am today. So I've let them go.

I hope they'll make the charity shop a little bit of money.