Sweats or No Sweats, that is the Question!

This post is a little late considering I've been thinking about it since last Thursday, but between my first week back at work with 10 hour days, having a few drinks Friday night with friends, and making yummy homemade lasagna Sat. for Jewell's birthday, I just haven't found the time.  Oh well, it gave me more time to stew over the subject!

So, I'm driving home Thursday night listening to a little "Cocktails with Patrick" when his co-host broached the subject of when it is and is not appropriate to wear sweatpants.  Her answer went something like this..."Sweatpants should only be worn on two occassions...to the gym and to a major surgical procedure."  She said they should never be worn to the doctor, to brunch, to the movies, grocery shopping, or even to walk the dog.  Patrick joined in by saying that GREY sweatpants should never be worn, not even in your own house with no witnesses.

Seriously, who are these people?  Do they realize what they are missing out on?

Now this is not a daily occasion, but nothing is better than going to the movies in your most comfy sweats, ordering a huge popcorn, and settling in for a good flick.  I also love wearing my sweats to brunch at Boone Tavern.  The looser the pants the more trips you can make to the buffet. Correct?  BTW, my "grey" sweatpants are my favorite, and yes, they have been worn to the Dr., grocery store, and to walk my two silly dogs.

It gets even better! 

Miss sassy pants co-host goes on to say that only Nurses and Doctors who work in a Hospital should be allowed to wear "those hospital pants."

Now, until this comment, I thought she was possibably a little shallow, but this put me over the edge.  All I could think of the whole way home was all my cute scrub outfits and how uncomfortable my job would be without them.  No, I am not a Dr. or a nurse for that matter, but I am a proud Occupational Therapist.  I spend my days helping people learn how to move, get dressed, use the bathroom, etc....anything they might need to do on a daily basis to be independent and care for themselves again..  I'm lifting, on the floor, covered in fluids that I don't always want to know what they are, and trust me, this would not be comfortable in my jeans, slacks, high heels, etc........

So, Ms. "Cozy in my NYC studio, wearing my Skinny jeans and Stillettos", I sit here in my car on a 90 minute drive home in my cute purple scrub pants with matching flowered top, from a long day of attempting to make a difference, however small it may be.  And I say to you, even though you have provided my dull drive some entertainment, "You can take me Nike and shove it!" " I love my sweats, my scrub pants, and my comfy shoes that carry me through my day" Yes, it is sometime tedious, but most days I feel rewarded, I laught until it hurts, and everyday I learn lessons from my patients that remind me just why I'm such a lucky girl.

Lesson to you my new friend who is confined to your oh so small box of a world:  Open your eyes, experience new things, venture outside of your comfort zone, and most importantly, Never Judge a Book by it's cover!  That person walking by you today in their "hospital pants" may just be the one teaching you to walk, talk, wipe your own ass one day!

I'm exhausted!

Kirsten