Live as flamboyantly as possible!
Hi all,
For today’s post, I decided to pick a random quote out of my quote book. Landed on some neat words from the psychologist and philosopher William James, “To change one’s life: Start immediately. Do it Flamboyantly. No Exceptions.”
Did some quick research. William is the brother of novelist Henry James (Turn of the Screw, Portrait of a Lady). What intrigues me is that William lived from 1842 to 1910, so even back then people wanted to wake up and change their lives. If you surf the Internet you may get the idea we are the first generation to be dissatisfied with the status quote. Clearly that isn’t the case. Feeling hemmed in by one’s circumstances has been around for a long time. We just like to think we are somehow more emotionally advanced.
Why is it so hard for humans to changes their lives, to live flamboyantly?
Interestingly enough, I got in trouble for dressing flamboyantly at my first job out of college. I wore big earrings and really bright orange and yellow floral patterns, purple, lime green, etc. My boss took me to breakfast one morning and said, “You dress too flamboyantly.” I knew right then I needed to find another job and that the conventional work arena was going to conflict with my personality.
Why are we supposed to tone ourselves down at work? Will that make us work better or make us more controllable? I never quite understood the “dressing down” philosophy.
I’m curious if this quote speaks to you. Are there ways you could live more flamboyantly or would you rather keep your life the way it is?
Muse thx, Giulietta
RSS
Hi Giuli,
Working at home, I can dress as flamboyantly as I’d like. It’s interesting but understandable that you don’t understand the “dressing down” philosophy. I think it’s misleading to associate dressing down in many workplaces with freedom of fashion. It seems to mean “You don’t have to wear a suit or nylons” but there’s an unwritten code even to dressing down! Why else would magazines have features on “how to dress down?”
Hey Sally, Good point about working at home! We can wear anything. I’ve always thought people might enjoy wearing PJ’s to work. Can’t imagine wearing a tie (aka noose) around my neck for 8+ hours. Who thinks up this attire anyway?
Giulietta