[CHANGES] The Purple-Power-Suit & updates

[Sandra Ahten]

NOTE: You probably signed up for this email at a Weight Watcher meeting or 
from a friend who passed it along to you. I am no longer with Weight 
Watchers, (as I am running my own art studio full time now), but am 
continuing this newsletter to you periodically (about monthly) as a way to 
stay in touch with those of you whom I know, and also because giving you 
glimpses into my own life through writing these essays provides insight for 
me as well. Take what you like and delete the rest! (Or unsubscribe).
---------------------------

The Purple-Power-Suit (and some personal updates at the bottom of the page)

I’ve told you all before that for me the basics of a good diet starts with 
making sure that I have healthy food on hand and taking time to prepare it. 
That means buying fruits and vegetables and preparing them. It means setting 
time aside to make a big salad and /or a pot of low calorie soup. This is 
never more important to remember than when I am in transition time – when my 
schedule or other things about my life is in flux. But it takes energy.

Through my twenties I worked as an executive for a manufacturing company. A 
new manager came on board. Gary saw a lot of potential in me and took me 
under his wing. He wanted to “groom” me. He rewrote my letters. When I 
picked up my bowl of coleslaw to have a bite, he gave me a lesson on table 
manners. (You never pick up a bowl from the table). And he gave me advice on 
my clothes. (I needed to have my white shirts professionally washed, ironed 
and starched). So as I was trying to follow his tutelage I thought he would 
be pleased when he saw my new suit – expensive, clean lines, well tailored, 
a beautiful deep violet. “Purple! That will never do.” he informed me. Only 
grey or black suits were… well suitable. It was then and there that I  knew 
that I was absolutely in the wrong job. In short order I gave up the job, 
but not the purple suit. It became my purple-power-suit. I wore it when I 
needed to a boost of self respect or to demand respect or attention from 
others. When Kyle was in the eighth grade there was difficulty between the 
teacher and myself and I felt the principle was not hearing my concerns. As 
an artist/ student it was easy for her to dismiss me. When I put on some 
heels, makeup and my purple-power-suit all of that changed. She paid 
attention.

But I hadn’t needed my suit for a long time. It had been at least seven or 
eight years since I’d had it on. It was time to let it go. And let it go I 
did. The purple-power-suit. The shoes that I’d worn out. The shoes that I’d 
barely worn. Everything that hadn’t gotten active wear in the last year. 
About half of my closet and drawers went to Goodwill last week. With the 
energy I got from that endeavor I tackled the coat closet and two kitchen 
cabinets. This morning -- my desk.

I’ve set aside time for this weekly clearing out. I want my home to be a 
haven – not, as a friend said to me, “a place where there is just another 
job to do.” I want to enjoy the homemaking I do. I want to enjoy the food 
that I prepare and actually enjoy the preparation too.

At one point wearing my purple-power-suit gave me positive energy. I’m sure 
for a period even after I last wore it… that the comfort of having it in my 
closet gave me something positive also. But in time I have changed, my needs 
have changed, and my need for having a purple-power-suit has changed. Now I 
have whimsical purple slip-on tennis shoes.

I love this about getting older – That I have acquired an understanding that 
I have to be on the look-out for ways that I have changed and ways that I 
want or need to change. My house was almost always a mess when I was in my 
twenties. I was a terrible housekeeper, mired in rebellion and chaos that 
was basically a reflection of my life. It took me all through my thirties to 
learn, not about cleaning house, but that I didn’t need to hang on this 
perception of myself as a slob. Long after it stopped being useful to me – I 
still defined myself as a slob and even now as I organize my sock drawer and 
fold my pajamas I still fight the urge to label myself as such. But this 
negative labeling takes away from the positive energy generated by the very 
organizing that I am accomplishing.

What do you need to do to make it possible that you can enjoy your home and 
hence enjoy the food preparation and enjoy the food itself? What do you need 
to do to increase the positive energy in your life?

Is time to clean out your closet? Maybe it is time to re-evaluate your 
priorities. Maybe it is time to re-evaluate your perception of yourself and 
the labels you’ve applied to yourself – or that you’re hanging onto because 
someone else still believes they apply. Maybe it is time to pare down your 
schedule. Perhaps drastic steps are needed and you need to quit your job or 
get in therapy. Maybe it’s time to make a pot of soup or schedule a daily 
morning prayer. Or time to start making grocery lists and have someone else 
in your house do the shopping.

I truly believe that the answers are within you. I don’t know whether it is 
time for you to let go of your purple-power-suit – or to acquire one. But 
the answer is within you. Just as the answer for a healthy diet is within 
you. While it is true that we all have the same amount of time in a day – we 
don’t have the same amount of positive energy in our lives. How can you tap 
into a more positive energy flow? Take just two minutes now to breathe 
deeply and pay attention to the answers that come to you.



SOME UPDATES:
---If all goes well, my son Kyle is being released from prison next week. As 
many of you know he was sentenced to 3 years last February. They cut his 
sentence in half since it was a non-violent offence and then he started 
earning good time on that. He got extra good time because he was in school 
held a job. My biggest fear, that he would be “hardened” by the experience 
and be in physical danger have not panned out. If anything he seems softer 
and more mature each time I visit him. Thank you all from the bottom of my 
heart for your kind thoughts and prayers.

--- I have a new drawing class for beginners (those who always wanted to 
learn – but have no confidence and think they have no talent) starting on 
Monday November 3 and lasting for 5 weeks. 7-8:30pm.  I have a class called 
Collage for the Soul on Tuesday’s from 7-9pm starting Nov. 18. Email me if 
you want info on either of these classes or my painting classes or ongoing 
open studio time for students.

---Mark your calendars for Dec 5 & 6. I am having an Open Studio with my 
work for sale. I’ll have more details for you later.

---For tips on decluttering and organizing your house --check out 
www.flylady.com.

My Best To You,
Sandra

© Sandra Ahten, 2003

_________________________________________________________________
Enjoy MSN 8 patented spam control and more with MSN 8 Dial-up Internet 
Service.  Try it FREE for one month!   http://join.msn.com/?page=dept/dialup