On a recent workday morning, I pulled open a little-used drawer in my bathroom vanity. It was full of tiny boxes, jewelry bags, and miniature totes. I had only a vague recollection of what was in those containers. With some hesitation, I opened a small box that contained four or five pairs of earrings and selected a pair of dangly black pearls. I put them on and tilted my head back and forth a bit to view my adorned earlobes. It was an oddly transformative moment. You see, I’m not a jewelry person. I don’t “wear” jewelry.
This is not to say that I don’t place small diamond studs into my earlobes every morning. I do, but it’s mostly to cover up the holes that are there. And I usually throw on the obligatory pearl necklace when I go to court or attend an important client meeting. But putting on jewelry is not something I consider significant or even relevant. It’s mostly because I have distilled my early morning routine to the essentials. I don’t consider the sixty seconds it takes to choose jewelry a high priority.
But there’s more to it, of course. I think of myself as straightforward and unpretentious. I sometimes fantasize about developing a black and khaki wardrobe, which would virtually eliminate clothing decision making. An efficient and uncomplicated lifestyle is my cup of tea. It’s easy to throw little luxuries under the bus in the interest of reaffirming my no-nonsense self-image.
I can easily sacrifice little indulgences like jewelry, but I won’t sacrifice my morning workout. I have streamlined my home environment and routine. When I wake up, I grab my running clothes hanging on hooks right inside my walk-in closet. My waist pouch resides next to the basket that holds my running shoes. I’m out the door in a heartbeat in the morning.
There are those who would say, and rightfully so, that taking the time to put on jewelry is nothing about efficiency – getting to the office sixty seconds earlier does not make the workday any more productive. Maybe I’m denying myself a little indulgence in the hope that austerity foments accomplishment and creativity. But that’s just plain silly, right?
So maybe, just maybe, I’ll add a dash of jewelry to my morning routine. I have a great little topaz necklace that looks just right with a somewhat faded black Nike running shirt.