DAY 7 - Thoughts after 7 days

I've been wearing the same dress (and shirts and leggings) for 7 days.  I've been asked if I am going to wash my clothes.  Jenny suggested via her boyfriend's suggestion that if we decide to watch our clothes, we should only hand wash them.  At first, I wasn't sure.  I don't want this month to be easy.  Those who are enslaved don't have choices.  They aren't comfortable.  I'm beginning to feel a little uncomfortable.  You know that feeling you get after you've had a good workout, but you're still in those same clothes?  That's how I feel.  I'm not sure if my clothes are eminating an odor yet.  I am meeting with some trustworthy friends in a couple of hours, so I'll ask them to smell me.  This morning, I decided I was going to hand wash my clothes tonight, but as I write this, I feel that I should fight the urge to be comfortable, and continue to wear my dress (and shirt and leggings) until others can smell an odor.

Speaking of clothes, I have been thinking a lot about how many clothes I have in my closets and drawers.  Over the past couple of years, I have slowly downsized my wardrobe, but still have way too many clothes for one woman.  I am planning on downsizing even more this month.  I'd like to give half of my clothes to the poor and needy here in Milwaukee.  I've also been thinking about how my clothes were made, and that's been making me sad.  Check out this video about cotton.



Although I don't have the money right now to replace my entire wardrobe with ethically made clothing, when I need more clothes, I am going to pursue stores that offer clothes made by individuals who are treated and paid fairly.  At this point in my life, I have been trying to only buy used clothes at thrift stores.

My thoughts these past 7 days have been so focused on modern-day slavery and human trafficking.  Some days I spend hours researching organizations and reading articles that educate me about these issues.  Some nights my mind runs through all the ways I can help raise awareness through writing and conversations.  I have little time to think about those things in my life that can cause anxiety, doubt, and worry.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes my thoughts around the depth of these issues can cause me to feel overwhelmed, but then I read stories like THIS, and know that there is hope.  My efforts to raise awareness and to fight these evils are worth even just one story of hope. 

"Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD."  Psalm 31:24