What Not to Wear

I confess, on Sunday afternoon I was sitting lazily reclining in my living room, barely awake. An episode of "What Not to Wear" with Stacey London and Clinton Kelly came on; you know TLC TV's show where radical wardrobe transformations happen. Suddenly something caught my attention and I woke up.

As I started watching in earnest, my chair went from reclining to upright. I needed a better viewing angle. This show featured a 30-something mom, Amanda, who is an at-home-blogger. The at-home blogger description sounds like a perfect scenario for someone who's staging a clothing style revolt, right? This What Not to Wear candidate leisurely spends her day in over-sized T-shirts and sweat pants.  Sounds comfortably okay, right?

If I told you that fashion and dyslexia have similarities would you argue with me? As I began watching the show that's all I could think about...the similarities of the two.

If you know someone in need of a complete fashion transformation and you are willing to help make it happen, submit an application and recent photos to nominate her as soon as possible...

That's from an online page for getting people on the What Not to Wear show; but check out those words, "complete fashion transformation." Transformation.  Now that's what I'm talking about!

Here's a link to listen to the pronunciation of Transformation (listening to the correct pronunciation can be helpful for dyslexics who can mix-up the sounds of trigger words.)  http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/transformation

             Here's one definition of transformation:

1. A marked change in appearance or character, especially one for the better.

As to transformation, here's where it happens: hiding behind the clothes is a mom doing what she loves -writing.  At the same time this woman feels something's missing.  On the outside she wears a sign which is a phony smile plastered over her true feelings -those are her words.

In her writing she jots down little quips that send out jabs.  Phrases like "I'm the dumb mom," and "I don't feel like a grown-up" fill her mind and her blog pages. On the outside she sticks to the persona of a writer; she's a blog conferences speaker and successful in her own right. On the inside it's not enough.

Not even Stacey and Clinton will tell you that clothes are all you need. In my business where the clay is like the clothes someone might hide behind there's more to it. It's more than the mental tools and theories that we trust in...it's about what's deep within our soul. 

What Not to Wear candidates have no idea their fashion choices are connected to self-esteem. My clients usually have no idea that clay therapy has the power to change how we feel about ourselves. But it happens.

Stacey and Clinton spent a week guiding Amanda down the friendly fashion path. In the end they equipped her for real life back home. Yes, she learned fashion rules and spent $5,000 on brand new clothes, but it was more than the money or the material goods; it was a transformation.

"I feel like I have more control over my live", she said, after the make-over week. 

"Now I'm the real Amanda". 

What have you worked hard to cover up (poor handwriting skills, difficulty reading out-loud, lousy spelling....) Check out the these 37 Common Traits of Adult Dyslexia

http://www.dyslexia.com/library/adult-symptoms.htm

Need help navigating all of this? Give us a call at 573-819-6010 or email us at onpointlearning@yahoo.com

What Not to Wear link: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/what-not-to-wear