Just DO IT Already!

The other day, my friend The Reader put this on her facebook wall:

So yesterday I found the most amazing bathing suit… called the ‘miracle suit’ and it was pretty miraculous. But it’s just over $200 😦 I’ve put it on hold, but am having a very hard time justifying that kind of expense. What do you all think – buy it or not?

First of all, typical gal, needs her friends to help her decide. Secondly, why do women have such a hard time justifying purchases that are good for them? The Reader easily spends more than $200 in books a year. Of course we are trained into believing that books are good for the mind and soul. They help create thoughtful conversations and can be enjoyed over and over. The list goes on.

Books = Excellent Purchase

And I might add, none of us lady folk ever call a friend to help us decide if we should buy a book or not, but we do lend them out as we read them. The gift that keeps giving!

So why is it when there is an item of clothing we want/need/desire, we have a hard time allowing ourselves to buy it? I think it’s moms that tend to be guilty of this practice. We make sure our young cubs have everything they need before we do. This practice isn’t just for cash, it is other things too, like:

1. Sleep – Moooooooommmmmmmm, I forgot I signed you up to bring cupcakes for the party tomorrow. I know its 10:00 PM but I prooooooooooooomised! Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaase????  And so we do it.

2. Movies – Mom…no one wants to watch stupid Tom Hanks, lets see yet another Transformer/Star Wars/Sci-fi anything instead! Won’t that be waaaaaaaaaaaay better?

3. Dinner – Gross mom, who wants to eat sushi when we can have Steak and fries? mmmmmm

I use to be guilty of indulgence as was my mother before me. I now practice what I preach.

1. You need cupcakes? Well you better get out of bed and get baking! I will pre-heat the oven for you.

2. Here (gives them a movie ticket) – you go see that movie and I will meet you out front when it is over.

3. Then stay home. There is chicken nuggets in the freezer.

Giving in is not the same as compromise. With compromise there is negotiation. This is not to say I don’t occasionally spoil and treat my kids, because I love too! I just do it less and I now have children who rival some of the best litigators in the world with their negotiation techniques! I look at it as a win/win.

I am liking this middle-age thing. I am feeling it – maybe its mojo. Or maybe its entitlement. Or maybe its because it feeeeeeels goooood. I read this the other day by Andy Rooney:

Andy Rooney says:

As I grow in age, I value women who are over forty most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over forty will never wake you in the middle of the night to ask, “What are you thinking?” She doesn’t care what you think.

If a woman over forty doesn’t want to watch the game, she doesn’t sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do. And, it’s usually something more interesting.

A woman over forty knows herself well enough to be assured in who she is, what she is, what she wants and from whom. Few women past the age of forty give a hoot what you might think about her or what she’s doing.

Women over forty are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won’t hesitate to shoot you, if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it’s like to be unappreciated.

A woman over forty has the self-assurance to introduce you to her women friends. A younger woman with a man will often ignore even her best friend because she doesn’t trust the guy with other women. Women over forty couldn’t care less if you’re attracted to her friends because she knows her friends won’t betray her.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over forty. They always know.

A woman over forty looks good wearing bright red lipstick. This is not true of younger women. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over forty is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They’ll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one! You don’t ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

Yes, we praise women over forty for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it’s not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed hot woman of forty-plus, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some twenty-two-year-old waitress.

Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, “Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free,” here’s an update for you. Now 80 percent of women are against marriage, why? Because women realize it’s not worth buying an entire pig, just to get a little sausage.

My Life Coach said to me yesterday, “The best part of being 50 is when someone asks you to do something and you say – hmmmm I don’t think so, or better yet – no. My answer usually is – now that I am 50 I don’t have to do that. It is kind of like when you were facing off with a bully and would say – You aren’t the boss of me!”

So why does it take us so long to figure that out? Some women are pleasers all their life, I can’t be that person. I like making choices that are right for me. So my Reader friend, buy the damn bathing suit! Wear it proudly because you earned it and after all your hard work this year, you will look FABULOUS in it! Meanwhile, keep this in mind:

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