fashion industry designer or buyer’s no- tion of what she should be wearing for any particular season. “Shopping here allows me more creativity and free- dom of expression, and I get to match items from eras and across price points, which retail buyers can’t do,” says the Middle East consultant.
Savage also considers resale items relatively risk-free because of their low cost. “I can step out of my comfort zone and experiment with styles and colors for $5, instead of $100,” ex- plains Savage, who adds that it’s fairly stress-free to decide she doesn’t like a $5 item, because she can give it back to the store or donate it elsewhere. Another reason Savage prefers resale fashion is that she is unlikely to see someone else wearing the same piece. She confirms Nichols’ observa- tion that resale shopping can be one of a woman’s favorite adventures. “You never know what you might find,” enthuses Savage. “When I come across some really irresistible, fantastic piece, it turns my thoughts to questions about the person who was willing to part with it: Is their wardrobe so fantastic that they found something even better? Did their lifestyle change? Did their closet get too full? Did it end up at the resale store by mistake? Each piece in a retail store has its own history, and someone had a relationship with it. And for me, rela- tionships are what make life interesting.” As early as 1998, a Washington
Post headline touted, “Now It’s Cool to Shop Consignment Stores for Christ- mas.” The article went on to note that consignment or resale stores had become so commonplace—and, in many instances, upscale—that shoppers had begun to accept the idea of buying secondhand items as gifts.
Why not give yourself, others and the planet a win/win gift this Christmas, one that keeps on giving with a bit of intrigue and adventure, new relation- ships (it’s fun to go where everybody knows your name), and a little more money in your pocket?
New to You, 933 Creech Rd., Naples. Call 239-262-6869.
Options Thrift Shoppe, 968 2nd Ave. N., Naples. Call 239-434-7715.
inspiration 10 1
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GUIDELINES FOR ENLIGHTENMENT
by Swami Beyondananda
Be a FUNdamentalist—make sure the Fun always comes before the Mental. Realize that life is a situation comedy that will never be canceled. A laugh track has been provided, and the reason we are put in the material world is to get more material. Have a good “laughsitive” twice a day to ensure reguhilarity.
Remember, each of us has been given a special gift just for entering, so you are already a winner!
The most powerful tool on the planet today is Tell-a-Vision, in which I tell a vision to you and you tell a vision to me. That way, if we don’t like the programming we’re getting, we can change the channel.
Life is like photography—you use the negative to develop. No matter what adversity you face, be reassured: The Universe has us surrounded. Might as well surrender.
It’s true that as we go through life thinking heavy thoughts, thought
particles tend to get caught between the ears and cause a condition called “truth decay.” So use mental floss twice a day, and when you’re tempted to practice “tantrum yoga,” remember what we teach in the Swami’s Absurdi- veness Training Class: Don’t get even, get odd.
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If we want world peace, we must let go of our attachments and truly live
like nomads. That’s where I no mad at you and you no mad at me. That way, there’ll surely be nomadness on the planet. Peace begins with each of us. A little peace here, a little peace there, and pretty soon all the peaces will fit together to make one big peace everywhere.
I know great Earth changes have been predicted for the future, so if you’re looking to avoid earthquakes, my advice is simple: When you find a fault, don’t dwell on it.
There’s no need to change the world—all we have to do is toilet train the world and we’ll never have to change it again.
If you’re looking for the key to the Universe, I’ve got some good news and some bad news. The bad news: There is no key to the Universe. The good news: It was never locked.
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Finally, everything I’ve told you is channeled. That way, if you don’t like it, it’s not my fault. But remember… Enlightenment is not a bureaucracy, so you don’t have to go through channels.
Swami Beyondananda is the alter ego of writer and humorist Steve Bhaerman. Find him online at
WakeUpLaughing.com.
natural awakenings December 2010 31
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