The 100 Days Dress Challenge

PROLOGUE:

How much might you expect or be willing to pay to be invited into or discover a community/tribe of more than 8K far-flung international individuals of widely diverse age, size, color, nationality and creed . . . that does nothing but encourage, praise and cheer for you and each other?

And what if all that was unintended consequences . . . never planned, anticipated or included in the group goals?

Then, what if I told you that never, EVER does anyone introduce a single one of the controversial or divisive topics of today’s world? And finally, what if I told you it is based in a purely capitalistic endeavor? Would you believe it?

What an absolute bargain, worth every penny, for the amazing shared-journeys with the kindest, most supportive group of women that might be found ANY where!

Oh, wait . . . did I happen to mention this is a Social Media group? On Facebook, no less?

Now, what if I told you the ONLY requirement for exclusive membership is to buy a dress from Wool& Company, wear it for 8 hours every single day, and document that with a selfie photo each day for 100 days? After successfully meeting those requirements, you will receive a $100 voucher toward the purchase of another garment?

Intriguing, isn’t it?

But what can such a mercenary challenge have to do with promoting “The Dream”, encouraging more of us, locally, nationally and internationally, to actively embrace that Dream and practice it in this year, 2022?

THE 100 DAY DRESS CHALLENGE

Truth be known, it is ONLY a dress. And yet . . .

If I were composing the story of The Dress as a work of fiction, it would be a fairytale sort of fantasy: A dark miasma hovers over the entire kingdom, spreading all the worst of human traits over the land, infecting all who dare to venture forth from their homes with selfishness, intolerance of differences of both body & mind, always ready to point out failings in others while believing themselves entitled to judge, quick to condemn or ridicule others.

Gradually and over time, tendrils of negativity begin to drift through the cracks and gaps of those homes, workplaces and even houses of worship. Drifting under the doors and down chimneys, the infection spreads among friends, families and co-workers with abandon. The worst cases are obvious though, within the dialogue exchanges of strangers who, knowing they will likely never meet, give license to heap ridicule and total disrespect upon one another.

The kingdom is becoming an ugly place lacking in compassion, kindness, respect for the ideas and ideals of others, until . . .

Enter The Dress Challenge: each style and color of dress in the Challenge has been imbued with magical properties . . . the sort of magic that will transform the persons wearing them so that each one is both a recipient of acceptance and encouragement AND joins her sisterhood in dispensing the same. As the care, consideration and camaraderie grow within the group, the easier and more frequently it is shared with the rest of immediate society, each act casting aside that fog of ugliness, restoring light throughout the kingdom.

The End.

Accepting that the nurturers of societies everywhere are the women – the wives, and mothers, sisters, daughters and the best of friends – who better to take on one Challenge (the Dress) that can contribute so much toward the other Challenge (the Dream)? And if that effort crosses borders and spreads among nations, how much better can it be?

I have already completed The 100 Days Dress Challenge sponsored by the Wool& Company, wearing a plum-colored “Rowena” swing-style merino wool dress from October 23, 2021 – January 31, 2022. That, alone, was quite an experience, bar none! But it was the near magical atmosphere of the private Facebook Group for active participants that made the entire 100 days so awesome and forms the basis for relating the experience to “We Have a Dream.”

In a play on “What happens in Vegas . . . “, so it is within the 100 Days group: “What is shared/revealed/confessed on the 100 Days Facebook page STAYS on that page!” And oh, have there been shares, revelations and confessions: lifelong struggles with body image magnified by the daily selfie requirement; cancer diagnoses and treatments for themselves, their husbands and children; the failures of marriages; domestic abuse are among the concerns met with countless virtual hugs and sincere expressions of TLC (tender loving care) as well as practical advice or gentle encouragement. Total strangers from a variety of states and/or countries are reaching out to one another with no expectation of a return on making an investment in kindness toward another.

No one should misunderstand that the Dress Challenge is totally altruistic and not about clothing, accessorizing, and building a wardrobe. Yet even there it is about natural fibers, sustainable fabrics, minimizing how much “flash fashion” is ultimately cast aside, ending up in landfills. In a quest to look and feel good in what we wear, the “woolies” (as the participants call themselves in a nod to the company’s focus on merino wool) spend as much time praising and calling attention to how clever and creative their sisters-in-wool have been, and citing the many aspects of beauty they exhibit.

Oh, don’t assume this is anything like a typical concept of beauty – of form or features or how well the clothing looks. The beauty being acknowledged is authentic and from the heart, the beauty of the joy in living in the moment, the beauty of the kindness being shown for each other, the beauty of seeing someone grow in confidence, the beauty of empowering another to become her best self in the face of adversity. And once those depths of true beauty are recognized in those strangers, it carries over into real life . . . in the smile of a cashier, the vibrant streak of magenta in the hair of waitress, in the sweet expression of an elderly woman in the bank lobby, and on and on. And when they are complimented? They blossom right before your eyes!

One of my favorite reactions to the community aspect of the Dress Challenge must be quoted: “Oh, my god, what a warm nest of motherly feathers you fall into!” (Reminder: this is Facebook! This is social media!) Even on a really truly awful bad day in your life, someone will find SOMETHING to compliment . . . your smile, your bravery for posting that photo, for the courage to tell about your truly awful day.

Where, oh where, in social media, is there such a place as a Judgement Free Zone? It is there, on the Dress Challenge page, where no effort, no opinion, no circumstance garners negativity. Advice, commiseration in the face of trials, or a simple “Hang in there” carries a boost for the positive Every.Single.Time. Practiced often enough it does something rather amazing, turning you into a much nicer person!

“More kindness, community and inclusivity” are basic to We Have a Dream. Actively contributing to carving out a genuinely positive zone on social media is one small step. It doesn’t matter, in the least, that the experience originated in a PR-motivated plan to sell clothing. What DOES matter is what grew out of that plan . . . that the atmosphere created by the women themselves is proving to be contagious. It is a place where change happens and that change is within ourselves. It is being manifested outside social media from the lessons being learned that are applied in our families, neighborhoods, communities and beyond.

What are those lessons?

And finally . . .

Sometimes all another person needs is for you to simply be and to sit on a bench with them!

POSTSCRIPT:

The experience of the 100 Days Challenge doesn’t necessarily end. Another private Facebook group “After The 100 Days” offers the opportunity of continuing friendships, mutual support and sharing empathy and kindness toward one another. It is another place for soft landings for this awesome international community of women of all ages, all sizes, all colors and all creeds, a place to share the Dream in 2022 and well beyond.

Truth be known, it is ONLY a dress. And yet . . .