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Jen Zug's avatar

“Striving for who I want to be feels less important these days than supporting and caring for who I am.” ❤️

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Sherri's avatar

This resonated for me too! I’m reading less self help type articles/books and focusing on accepting who I am and doing more things that nurture my soul. I’ve restarted doing yoga and it feels like I’m taking better care of myself.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Yay to yoga! Good for you Sherri!

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Tess Baldwin's avatar

I love the magical thinking that comes with high school. My dream was to be transformed into Sandy from "Grease". Somehow I wanted to be her as a goody-two-shoes and a steamy, skin-tight panted vixen simultaneously. (?) I get momentary flashes of being happy with who I am and it is worth the hype. Happy New Year.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I also wanted to be Sandy. 🤣 Momentary flashes, so true. Happy New Year to you as well.

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Claire Coenen's avatar

Yesssss. This all resonates for me, Mary, especially: “I’m just not as eager to shape shift as I used to be. Striving for who I want to be feels less important these days than supporting and caring for who I am.” ♥️♥️♥️♥️

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Hi Claire! Happy New Year! I thought of you up on the mountain yesterday and was wondering if you would want to share some writing sometime. 🥰

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Claire Coenen's avatar

Yes! I will email you some thoughts!

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Christine Vaughan Davies's avatar

This was delightful to read. I'm with you in not having any resolutions. My husband did just install a bidet on our toilet today and so maybe that will change my life! Also a good reminder that post two kids I probably need to get another bra fitting!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

A bidet totally sounds like it could be life-changing. And yes, go for it! I love my new bras mostly because I can stand wearing them all day. 😂

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Andrea Bass's avatar

I love this part: “I’m just not as eager to shape shift as I used to be. Striving for who I want to be feels less important these days than supporting and caring for who I am. After spending so much of my life trying to change, not being desperate to escape who I am just might be my most radical resolution yet.” Also, I do need a full post on that cult you almost joined. Thanks! 🙂

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

🤣

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Natalie Ward's avatar

You know, I think that if you let yourself find joy in all sorts of things, a vacuum can change your life. Think about finding a good pen. The one that doesn’t blot and makes your writing look okay. And it slides so nicely across the paper. *perfection A vacuum that works really well and you don’t hate using? *perfection I kinda view that feeling as life changing.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Me too Natalie. I’m still digging the vacuum though it probably doesn’t get as much use as it should. 😂

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Rachael Harrah's avatar

So very radical, and so very important. I loved reading this, Mary!

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Dear Mary -- I'm so glad you found and commented on my recent post, because now I've found you. And this is going to sound some kind of something, but trust me when I tell you that I don't jump to subscribe to every writer who shows up in my world. But, yippee! Can't wait to read more of your way of thinking.

Signed, Your Resolutionless Older New Best Friend

p.s. When you have a minute, you might get a kick out of this: https://elizabethbeggins.substack.com/p/welcome-rosie -- The update is, well, pretty much fist bumping Dan here. :)

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Hi Elizabeth, what a lovely comment and kind action. I read your post and laughed out loud. I love reading things that make me laugh so now I am subscribed to you as well, and I also don’t quickly subscribe either. I agree that our writing and hearts seem to have something kindred in them and I’m glad we found each other and can share writing. Now, I really want a Rosie though. 😂

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Well, we might be able to work out a trade. 😂

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

😂

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Loreley Smith's avatar

I thought my Roomba would change my life. That thing roams through the house wreaking havoc if I forget to pick up hazards in advance, then proceeds to cough up a hairball like an old cat. Hope your vacuum makes life easier if not life altering! Bra fitting- yes! I’m a believer. It’s time for me to get re-fitted as my physical shape continues to shift with age 🙄 As always, your essay resonates with me!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I have always been intrigued by the roomba. My vacuum and bras are both holding up well. Thanks for reading! 😊

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Anne LaBrash's avatar

Love this!! And as one who has spent so much of her life chasing her own elusive sense of happiness…I so can relate! Thank you for sharing 💜

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Thanks so much for reading Anne! I’m glad it resonated. Here’s to happiness now.

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Karen S. Bonnell's avatar

delightful! 🙏 Getting a little older does have a few perks - that wisdom everyone raves about, that business about wearing purple (perhaps over rated). My personal favorite is not giving as much thought to what others might think 😉

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Thanks Karen! 🥰

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Kristy Acevedo's avatar

Oh, I remember that movie and how much I was like “I need knee high tights to change my life!” 🤣

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

🤣

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Lizz's avatar

Happy New Year! Great post! I keep coming back to ‘leaning in’ this month and your words always hit my heart at just the right time. Keep being awesome 💕

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Oh, what a kind compliment. Thank you for reading, friend! 🥰

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Janisse Ray's avatar

omg, you've got to tell me more about this bra fitting. My bras are killing me. Is this actually a thing and how do I find a bra-fitter?

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

My writing group told me yesterday that I should write about this, and I think they might be on to something. Yes, totally a thing. I just walked into Nordstrom’s. You could go to any department store, I imagine and you could call ahead to confirm the lingerie department does fittings or make an appt but I just walked in. The fitting takes 30 mins to 60 mins, and then they suggest lots of styles etc. A bra at Nordstrom’s is about $60, so three times a Target bra, but to have two bras that really fit comfortably rather than 5 or six that don’t feels so worth it to me.

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Jen Zug's avatar

I did a bra fitting at Nordstrom about 15 years ago! I might do another one since my body feels quite different today.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

It had also been about 15 years for me- lots of change since then. I also need to shop for pants but I’ve been putting that off. 😂

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