Feeling Thankful…

I’m writing something a little bit different today.

My Saturday posts are usually about shopping. Well, a lot of this blog in general is usually about shopping. I basically blog about dresses and skirts and how I want to buy ALL THE PRETTY THINGS. True to form, I actually did have a post scheduled all about transitional midi skirts, including of course a collection of the ones I most want to own right now. But it didn’t feel right for that post to go live today.

Today a very dear friend of mine is caught up amongst the carnage left by Hurricane Irma in The British Virgin Islands, and will no doubt be busy battening down the hatches for round two, with Hurricane Jose hot on Irma’s heels. I know my friend is safe and well, which is obviously the most important thing, but I also know the place she lives has been completely devastated and it’s heart wrenching to wonder how she might be feeling right now. Contact from them is limited due to there being no power on the island, but from what we know the damage is catastrophic. I can only imagine what her poor family here in the UK must be going through, knowing they can’t talk to her or give her a cuddle and tell her everything will be alright. I’ve spent the last few days pondering what it must feel like, to have the place you live destroyed in the blink of an eye, and I just can’t fathom it. So it just felt wrong to be all, ‘Oh hey, check out these shoes!!’ today, when people over there have just lost everything.

Instead, I want to take a few minutes to gain some perspective. I am often guilty of comparing myself to others and feeling envy at what they have. I have a ridiculous collection of clothes and shoes – far more than a girl could ever truly need – and yet still I find myself deciding I need MORE. Events like this though remind you that any minute it could all be taken away, and would it really matter? No. Because they are just things. Tomorrow I’m sure I’ll go back to lusting over material things and lamenting the fact I can’t afford to own more Kate Spade – we are fickle creatures, after all. But for today I’m just thankful I have a roof over my head, a warm bed to sleep in, an abundance of food and drink and my loved ones all safe around me. And instead of frittering it away on a dress I’ll love for 5 minutes, I’ve donated some of my spare cash to the relief fund, in the hopes it might help someone rebuild their life.

Most of all, I’m thinking about my friend, wishing I could be there for her and sending her and her fellow islanders all my love and well wishes.

If you have a penny or two to spare to help, please take a few moments to follow this link and donate:

https://www.virgin.com/unite/bvi-community-support-appeal

Love,