The Contentedness thread - Page 26

On the way home today, there was a young man walking across the square in front of me who must have had muscular dystrophy or another degenerative disability. He tripped and fell on the cobblestones, and the bags he was carrying were scattered everywhere. Most people ignored it, but a few, myself included, ran about scooping up the plastic before it could blow away. He assured us all that he was fine, and I found myself walking in the same direction that he was. He lives close by; out the gate and down the road a ways, so I introduced myself and asked if I could help him with his bags after checking again if he was alright. He had fallen pretty hard. He said No, that he just felt a bit of a dick, and that he was a little embarrassed by the children's bow-and-arrow that he was carrying - the one that had been scattered across the cobblestones. We chatted on our way down the road until we got to my building, where we said our goodbyes. He had a very firm handshake.

I had to stop and sit on the stairs on the way up to my apartment, in the dark, and stare out the window. There are moments that, by their nature, take you by surprise, and for some reason I was left feeling as if I'd been punched in the gut. So I sat there, staring at nothing, trying to feel something, anything, for the young man who fell on the cobblestones, for the man who sleeps by the train station at night, or even for the death of my own brother, and all I could manage was the same numb hollowness that has settled resolutely in the pit of my stomach for the last few years.

When he hit the ground, he was still for a moment or two. Then, very slowly, he pushed himself off the stones.

It is never easy to pick yourself up.

This has no relation to fashion, to denim, or even to consumption, but I felt I had to share the story, and it couldn't really fall under any other aegis in our little streetwear microverse. There are some moments that are so inescapably human, so shocking in the forcefulness with which they remind you of your own mortality, that you either let them run away from you and you try your best to never remember them, or you force yourself to set aside some time for contemplation. I have a wardrobe - a wardrobe I have posted about in this thread, even - worth thousands of dollars; the grand sum of a hobby I enjoy and the product of a good deal of hard work and not a little bit of money. I would have given all of it away if I could only have spared that boy what must have been a moment of absolutely excruciating pain. Without a second thought.

Since arriving in the UK, I've almost been hit by two buses, read about several murders, and seen someone get run over by a bicyclist. Today, not only did Jordan pick himself up of the cobblestones with an entire square of people staring at him, but he laughed at himself afterwards. I have never been so proud to be human.

That is worth remembering. That is worth living for. I will never forget that pause - that instant of utter stillness, when I saw someone lying on the ground who might have been moments away from giving up. We have to remember what we're fighting for. We have to remember how fortunate we are. We have to remember how easy it is to change a person's life, whether you're the toothless old lady handing a boy back his children's archery set, or whether you're just the jerk-off American who thinks that sometimes, with a kind word or two, you can save an entire day. Because maybe you can. It's always worth a shot.
Edited by Synthese - 10/11/12 at 5:26pm

what's the point, really? they look the same and are meant to last like forever. I wouldn't want to own more than about 10 pairs of shoes at the same time.

Great post synth. Sometimes I think contentedness means not minding even if you had to give it all away.

^^I've been thinking about this a lot recently. I recently picked up a copy of the burning house and started thinking which of my things I'd want to save if there was in fact a fire (although i probably wouldn't bother if there was an actual fire, but it is an interesting exercise). If most of my possessions burned, I wouldn't miss them. I'd be upset because it took me a while to acquire all of them, but other than that it wouldn't really matter. If it wasn't such a hassle to sell my things, I'd probably get rid of a good 60% of my clothes and keep some shoes/boots, button downs, 2 pairs of jeans, a weeks worth of white v necks, some sweaters and a few winter coats/jakcets.

My dad once told me the decision to own something is the decision to buy it. If you wouldn't buy it for a dollar at a garage sale, what is it doing in your life (or at least your closet)? I know a dollar seems like a tiny amount, but think about it. Most people have things they own they wouldn't if they had to pay good money for them. And if you wouldn't pay money for it right now, you shouldn't own it.

Lately I've had the weird sensation of not wanting/needing anything else in particular.

 

jealous.

i've gotten to the point where besides shoes I'm kind of happy with wearing like 80% uniqlo with a couple of higher end pieces mixed in.

i wish i could sell all my clothes and just buy cheap nice stuff. and spent it all travelling or a worth while cause.

What holds you back?

 

This is exactly where I'm at. 80% Uniqlo, bit of COS, slightly smaller bit of higher end stuff. Done. 

I'm gonna sell all my clothes.

And do something worthwhile now.

See you all at Buy and Sell!!!

http://cognoscenti.wbur.org/2012/10/10/fast-fashion-debi-greenberg

I get this attitude I guess, but I also don't think it's the point of this thread. What you're basically saying is that you're fine with having very bland, mediocre pieces as long as you accentuate them with some more exciting pieces. Whereas the point of this thread is more to celebrate those exciting pieces we already have.