The Traveling Red Dress
{by Jenny from The Bloggess}
My friend (Sunny) is an artist. She writes and paints and makes beautiful, whimsical dresses out of found objects and magic. One of my favorite dresses of hers is the red poppy dress and I wanted it the first time I saw it but I knew I’d never get it. For one thing, it’s not sensible. It’s impractical. It’s bright red and vibrant and shocking and “inappropriate for a woman my age”. And I have no shoes to go with it. And I have no place to wear it.
And I want it.
I want, just once, to wear a bright red, strapless ball gown with no apologies. I want to be shocking, and vivid and wear a dress as intensely amazing as the person I so want to be. And the more I thought about it the more I realized how often we deny ourselves that red dress and all the other capricious, ridiculous, overindulgent and silly things that we desperately want but never let ourselves have because they are simply “not sensible”. Things like flying lessons, and ballet shoes, and breaking into spontaneous song, and building a train set, and crawling onto the roof just to see the stars better. Things like cartwheels and learning how to box and painting encouraging words on your body to remind yourself that you’re worth it.
And I am worth it.
And last week…?
…I got my red dress.
I didn’t have shoes, or a party to wear it to, or even a valid excuse to own it, but I had the dress.
And it was everything I thought it would be.
But here’s the thing…you are worth it too. Which is why this week the red dress will begin a journey, traveling from city to city so that other people can wear it and love it and feel as special and vivid and dynamic as they already are. Because sometimes we all need a little red dress to remind us of that. So today, think about what it is you need and were too embarrassed to ask for. And then go…do it. Wear a ball gown to the grocery store. Invite the neighbors to have a picnic on the front lawn. Get that novel out of your sock drawer and publish it yourself. Stand on a bus stop bench and belt out a song for the waiting strangers. Find a playground swing and remember how it felt to fly. Find your red dress. And wear the hell out of it.
Read more from Jenny on her blog, The Bloggess.
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Infinitely gorgeous…. both YOU, Jenny, in that red dress – and this writing…. Just what I needed to read this Monday morning. Thank you.
Danielle Smith recently posted..Gratitude and Thanks- from Me to YOU…
This was the first blog post I read this morning. So glad I did! Such an amazing sentiment. Thank you, Jenny. I’m bookmarking this for other days I just NEED to hear it.
Michelle@Everyday Celebrating recently posted..DIY- Birthday Countdown
That is a gorgeous dress and it tells a fabulous story, as do you, Jenny.
Mandy recently posted..Thanksgiving 2010
Love this story and loved all the photos from Karen’s photo shoot. I remember when she took these. You looked amazing! Makes me want to run out and do something spontaneous.
MommaDJane recently posted..Happy Thanksgiving 2010
[...] The Traveling Red Dress was featured on StoryBleed. [...]
I read this on her site when she wrote it. It made such an impact on me. And now, here, is exactly when I needed to read it again. Thank you.
I remember reading this on her site, too . . . and being totally inspired. I needed the reminder today.
I LOVED this post by @TheBloggess when it first published, THRILLED it's featured on @Storybleed today!! http://bit.ly/dIAgNC
That is so awesome…makes me feel all little girl giddy inside! I want a red dress.
The Traveling Red Dress | Story Bleed Magazine http://ow.ly/3gRCL Love this post via @thebloggess
"I want to be shocking, and vivid…" @TheBloggess does just that, bringing us with her. http://bit.ly/hxLW29
{you'll love}RT @StoryBleed: "I want to be shocking, and vivid…" @TheBloggess does just that, bringing us with her. http://bit.ly/hxLW29
RT @StoryBleed: "I want to be shocking &vivid…" @TheBloggess does just that, bringing us with her. http://bit.ly/hxLW29 // 1 of my faves!
What is your red dress? Find it, and wear the heck out of it. http://bit.ly/gZT0lZ http://fb.me/yrjIkL1S
this has to be one of my most favorite posts of all time.
jen recently posted..where ive been
RT @StoryBleed: "I want to be shocking, and vivid…" @TheBloggess does just that, bringing us with her. http://bit.ly/hxLW29
This reminds me of the movie The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. I shoddy that red dress really soon!
Love it. RT @storybleed "I want to be shocking, and vivid…" @TheBloggess does just that, bringing us with her. http://bit.ly/hxLW29
What an incredible dress. I just realized it has been YEARS since we sat at BlogHer and you told us the “stabby” story that turns out was a dream. And it has been years since I’ve seen a pic of you. And it’s great to see your beautiful smiling face again. (You’re blonder now.)
Love the dress. Love how happy you look in it.
Lisa (Formerly MidwesternMommy.com ala MotherOfBun