Don’t underestimate the power of a seemingly casual conversation over lunch or a coffee date. Time spent with a dear friend can certainly be time well spent!
The other day I was ringing in the New Year with one of my long-time friends. We have shared much of our adult life raising kids, sharing dreams and goals, and making fun memories. As we are both now in the empty-nesting phase of our lives, we were catching up on the current status of our lives. Since I’m never able to shut down the life coach in me, I was asking her about her goals and dreams for this new chapter in her life. As she shared her passion for fashion, she seemed to come alive in the conversation. Before I knew it, she was sharing tips with me on how to clean out my closet, what to get rid of, and what to add in terms of the latest fashion trends. I was told to keep my wardrobe simple and classic – great advice by the way! As I listened carefully, I was sure to take good mental notes. I asked her to give me “homework” so that I could get started immediately before I had a chance to talk myself out of this new endeavor. After designing a plan of action, I could hardly wait to get home and get started.
By the end of the day, I was able to fill up several bags of clothing and shoes I hadn’t worn in quite some time, which I then dropped off at one of my favorite charities. By the end of the week, I was able to strategically shop for the new pieces of clothing which were versatile and interchangeable. What started out as a seemingly dreaded task in my mind quickly turned into a fun challenge. Not only that, the plan was now executed within a matter of days!
It’s incredibly satisfying now to look in my closet and be confident about choosing what I want to wear without stress because now there’s much less, which makes it easy for me. I’m also happy to know that many other people will be enjoying some “new” clothes of their own because of what I was willing to say goodbye to.
The next time you have coffee or lunch with a friend, be intentional about what new piece of information you can learn from them. You could be walking away with a new wardrobe, a new career, a new hobby, or a whole new you!