Every morning I commit to spending intimate time with myself. I devote my attention to being with myself entirely when I make my bed, do my makeup, brush my teeth, get dressed, cook and have breakfast etc.
This morning, after a deeply engaging session with myself while I did my eye makeup, the clock informed me that it was already time to leave. For a moment I allowed panic to enter and started rushing and could feel I was no longer with myself. So instead of putting on my lipstick, I just grabbed a lip colour to take with me, swung a sweater around my neck without putting it on, took the nearest pair of sunglasses on the dining table and headed out the door.
When I entered the elevator, everything felt wrong. I started to put my lipstick on (there was a mirror in the elevator), but the colour did not feel harmonious with the eye colour I was wearing. More accurately, the care that I had taken doing my eye makeup did not agree with the way the lip colour was now being applied. Not only was this felt in my body, but was also visibly seen on my lips. My body also felt cold, because I didn’t put the sweater on, and oops, the ‘sunnies’ had an electric blue lens that very obviously clashed with the neutral and sandy tones I was wearing.
What came to me at that moment was very clearly the message: “Walk with You.”
So, without worrying about time or if I would miss the bus, I immediately pressed the lift button to go back to my floor. Entering the house without delay, or thinking, but also without rushing, I took another lipstick to put on, checked the mirror and saw that it looked and felt harmonious. I took my backpack off, carefully slid the body-hugging sweater on and instantly felt warm and nurtured. Finally, I put on a different pair of sunglasses and the mirror reflection beamed back, “Boy oh boy, aren’t you cool?” I may have heard an entourage of heavenly applause and even had a moment to curtsy before stepping out the door again.
As I walked to the bus stop, every step was walked with me, and it was the safest and most solid feeling I have ever felt.
There were no thoughts of anything other than the walk. Even though I left the house later than usual that morning, as I chose to walk with myself in my every step, I came to the bus stop and the bus arrived at the same time that I did.
By Adele Leung, Fashion Stylist/Creative Director, Hong Kong
Further Reading:
A Delicious Breakfast Date With Myself
The Greatest Love is Within Me
Living religion: in every moment
