Finding Style From Within
by Jason Cabico on April 29, 2009 in Culture
Last weekend, I had my first al fresco dinner of the year. The evening was warm enough that I could finally pull out a pair of shorts from the container of warm weather clothes hibernating sadly under my bed. As my friend and I sat down at our table, he started going on about how spring had arrived. Despite the summery ensemble I was sporting, I quickly told my friend how wrong he was. True, the weather was pleasant enough for me to study outside during the day in jeans and a t-shirt, but it wasn’t top-off-sunbathe warm. So, for me, sunny day plus t-shirt equaled the beginning of a farmer’s tan, and two-tone appendages are never a good look. Moreover, the weather was not going to last and cooler times would force me back into the smothering embrace of yet another sweater. I know I was waxing poetic about cashmere v-necks six months ago, but that was SIX MONTHS ago!
As we proceeded with dinner, we discussed many things, including how boring my life is with all the studying this time of year and how my summer job had been cut from ten weeks to eight. It would only be a matter of time until I ended up on fmylife.com. After dinner, we headed to one of my favorite ice cream joints, only to find a line out the door due to the so-called “lovely” day. Since my sweet ending wasn’t happening, I figured I might as well pick up some groceries and head home to do more work. This was the glamorous Saturday night of a graduate student.
When I got to Whole Foods, though, I was shocked. There was no one there. I was in and out. As I reached the platform of the subway station on my way home, the train arrived – and had plenty of empty seats for me to sit down and rest. It hadn’t been a perfect day, but at least I would be home soon.
At home, I noticed my friend had left me a text message. He thanked me for a nice evening out and asked me if I wanted to hang out again next weekend. I smiled. And then I realized how negative I had been all night, with all my whining and ingratitude. Tacky.
Style and being stylish is often thought of in terms of fashion and the cosmetic trappings of life. However, style is also conveyed in the way one carries one’s self and deals with social situations. Dignity, self-awareness, sympathy, and perspective are all aspects of personal style that every one can possess, yet no one can buy. It’s like a recession special for personal style. When the chips are down, what really matters isn’t the cards one is dealt. What matters is that you remember that it’s just a game and you might as well make the most of it with those around you.
This is not to say that life isn’t serious. Sure, it is – especially these days, when the Wall Street Journal is reporting there are 70,000 non-profit jobs available in the U.S. but many soon-to-be Kennedy School graduates can’t find these alleged jobs-o-plenty. Ultimately, we have to remember to take advantage of opportunities that are available, however un-ideal; be actively thankful for what we do have, instead of lamenting what is temporarily out of reach; and be patient when plans get sidetracked, because something else just as good or better will come along if we let ourselves think outside the box.And if we’re not humorless, dour killjoys, other people are more likely to stick around to make us smile and remind us that there are still things to look forward to next week.
Whether spring exercise is destroying your last good nerve, you’re about to graduate and face the harsh reality of a brave, broke new world, or you have to hunker down in a dingy corner of the library while the best weather in six months shines outside, put your best face on and focus on the upside – at least when you’re around other people dealing with their own problems and trying not to fall into a deeper rut. Yes, misery loves company, but I bet your company would appreciate a friend who is not only sympathetic to their concerns but is also able to laugh with them about their weird tan lines while waiting for ice cream. Keeping it classy means more than avoiding denim shorts and Teva’s, Birkenstocks, and Crocs AT ALL TIMES. Classy is an attitude that contributes to a positive and attractive personal style. So, wherever this summer and the world beyond may take you, remember – keep it classy K-Schoolers.
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