I have a favorite shirt. There. It is good to have that out in the open. We hit it off right away, and then we started spending an inordinate amount of time together. Now, it has blossomed into a beautiful relationship.
The relationship began in early February when I received the long-sleeved technical t-shirt for running the Surf City Half Marathon in Huntington Beach. “I Ran This Beach!” is printed across the front, which is a little embarrassing due to the sophomoric Blake Shelton-ish double entendre. But I love my shirt.
It is attractive, I guess, sort of a denim-y acid-washed color, but that isn’t why I like it so much. I just really like the way it feels. In an “I’m-embarrassed-my-wife-will-read-this” sort of way, I really like the way it feels.
Speaking of my wife, she probably hates it by now since I put it on every day when I get home from work and there is a decent chance that it doesn’t smell like a spring meadow, but that hasn’t slowed me down because changing into my favorite shirt signals an important transition from work to relaxation. The person who had the bright idea of tying something in a knot around your neck and calling it business (busy-ness) attire was, well, pretty spot on. Untying the knot that threatens to disconnect my brain from my heart and lungs and putting on my favorite shirt is an important part of my day.
Now that technology has successfully obliterated the work/relaxation line, I consider this daily costume change an act of defiance. I will not be dominated by work. I may work a lot, maybe more than I should, and maybe even at home, but it will be on my terms while wearing my favorite shirt. And that feels good in more ways than one.
Starting to Look Up 