Stepford Wives

I love to play dress up. I do it nearly every day. I like to open my closet and imagine one of the great ladies of the Golden Age of the Silver Screen. What would Grace Kelly wear? I have done Lauren Hutton rather frequently. I have fun with Mia Farrow. I do not think that Mary Kate does Hobo Chic very well. She is too little to carry it off. Today's effort was Audrey Hepburn. Sadly, I failed. I either look like a Gap ad or a Stepford Wife. Either way......not good. Especially the latter. The cookie cutter is exactly what I wish to avoid. Living my entire life catering to the needs of others at the expense of personal identity is also to be avoided. Yet, this has been the pattern for me for so long. Am I strong enough to break the tethers and live life on my terms? How do I find/create my personal identity while still providing love and nurture to the ones I love most? Will I ever be courageous enough to speak the whole truth and nothing but the truth and not acquiesce when the truth might be uncomfortable? I am thinking of the Blue's song "Standing at the Crossroads". I do not know who the original songwriter is. I think first of Eric Clapton, but when I hear the song in my mind, it is always Stevie Ray Vaughn's version. Maybe when I get dressed tomorrow, I should think of The Wizard of Oz. Frequently, when I look in the mirror lately the Cowardly Lion is staring back at me.