This year I made a promise.
Not to anyone else, just to me. I have tendency to lean toward pleasing and making people happy. So this is a big deal, you know, making me happy.

I started The Promise 365 to spend an entire year investing in my head, heart, body & soul ~ and not spend it on clothes, shoes, trinkets and magical moments otherwise known as shoppers high.

About a month ago it occurred to me that this year will eventually end, and I will go back to shopping. So I asked Holly Getty if she would be my guide when I return to the land of apparel.

Imagine my delight when I received this note from Holly:

“I had an idea about your project.
I am so honored to be the lucky girl to take you shopping when your year is up.
Thank you for that.
Would you take a little time each month to envision how you want to look next year?
What you see yourself wearing.
How do you look? How do you feel?
Remember, there is no limit. Money is not a factor.
I want you to tap into your ideal, your dream.
Sound good?”

Sound good?
SOUNDS GREAT!

Let’s flashback:
The Promise 365 came to me while I was at the spa with Debbie Phillips (we were working, promise).

And, that’s when it hit me.
Have you ever had an experience that completely opened your eyes?  Changed how you looked at everything from that day forward?

For me, it was the spa.
There I was, feeling pampered every day, waking up to yoga and Pilate classes, meditation workshops, trying new massage techniques (hello, hot rocks!) and facial treatments. And, I can’t forget ending the day  with a starry, starry night massage.

Here’s the life changing piece:
Between relaxing by the sky blue pool and eating super fresh, well-portioned meals, I thought:
Why don’t I do this more often?

Looking over the price list of each treatment, it occurred to me that most were the price of a dress, or new pair of shoes.  And, I would buy that!

Talk about paradigm shift.
It’s like looking at those terrible little miniature photo posters at the mall and trying to see “the image” ~ once you see it, your eye can’t focus on anything else.

Little did I know where this promise would take me.

Last night may have been my worst experience yet. I won’t go into the dramatic details, but it was the climax of a cleanse involving castor oil. I think I spent half the night in the bathroom.

I won’t drone on about it, it’s over.
The point is, not everyday has been easy.

Sure, it is easy enough not to go to the mall. I just avoid the temptation.
And, it is also pretty simple not to shop online. I can look, just can’t click.
At times, it has been pretty hard to write.  But I power through, spelling errors and typos included.

But now I have an end goal, a celebration of sorts.
Today, when I was drained of energy and spirit, Holly’s offer had me pouring over Vogue Magazines (thank you for sending them to me Mary Ellen Jones) to start that process of figuring out just how I want to look and feel next year.

It felt wrong to tear pages out of the beautiful magazines, ripping some poor woman’s legs from her shoes on the other side of the spread. But I did it. With verve!

I tore pages. Carolina Herrera.
I gathered looks. Marc Jacobs and Yves Saint Laurent.
I collected shoes and jackets and bags. Tods.

Here’s the kicker:
While I spent the afternoon on a paper shopping spree, when I really thought about what I really want next year, this is what I came up with.

Health. Vibrancy. Love.

Oh, I DO want a signature look —- and I am SO DELIGHTED and feel so LUCKY to have THE HOLLY GETTY by my side next year when my shopping debut arrives.  I will keep taking notes about my feelings and goals, and will rip out those pages from glossy magazines so Holly can work her magic.

Until then, I am also going to keep investing in this head, heart, body & soul.

And that, brings me to this:
What if Holly posed her questions to you?

When you think of yourself next year…
What you see yourself wearing?
How do you look? How do you feel?
Remember, there is no limit. Money is not a factor.
I want you to tap into your ideal, your dream.

With love, (and thanks to Holly)
-Jamie

Tags: Holly Getty, promise, shopping, vogue