Worth the Investment
There are many things you can invest in. Your pets, your significant other, luxury goods, time, etc. Although I believe there are benefits to investing in items, it is equally, if not more, important to invest yourself in other things. I'm going to be talking about three things that are definitely worth our time and money!
Invest in Goods
I definitely do not make big bucks. Although I am financially stable, it is still hard to live in such an expensive city like San Francisco! I use to work in New York, and I'm almost positive that San Francisco is more expensive than the Big Apple. Despite my humble salary, I have chosen to buy less and invest more into items that I really love. I have recently taken the plunge and bought a pair of Over the Knee Stuart Weitzman boots that I've been coveting for so long.
I love wearing dresses, but I get cold easily. Having these pair of boots have made it easier for me to look less like a slob at work. I tend to gravitate towards sweats and big shirts when it's cold outside. Plus, the OTK perfect for dressing up any outfit, whether you're going for a casual or fancy look.
Side story: I was once at Nordstrom and I wanted try on a pair of thigh high boots. I asked an employee if she could help me get my size. She looked at me and said I was too short and that they would be too long. I walked away from her and asked another individual to help me. Do NOT let others tell you what you can or can't wear. It is YOUR decision. Again, the world has stupid standards. I bought these boots online, not caring if they would be too long for me or not. They fit, they're a great length, and I think they're worth my investment.
Anyways, another item I have chosen to invest in is my watch! I wear a watch almost everyday and I have a gnarly tan line to prove it! The one I own is by Movado and it was a collaboration between Yves Béhar, an industrial designer, and the brand. He accentuated the museum dial, a characteristic that is unique to Movado. Any Movado watch is a great piece to have in someone's collection. They are classic, beautiful, and timeless! People laugh at me because there are no numbers on it so they ask how I even read it. Surprisingly, it's not that difficult for me! I also have two, one casual one with a leather strap and the other with a metal bracelet. Both are great as accessories and of course, for telling time!
Tip: Wait for sales! I usually wait for the Nordstrom Anniversary sale. If you're a member, you can get early access to the goods that will be released to the public a few days later! The items on sale aren't from last season, but they are new and upcoming! I usually wait until that time of year to make any big purchases after doing a bit of research. The two items mentioned above were bought during the sale in previous years. Although the price was still not for the faint of heart, I still managed to save a lot of money rather than paying full price.
Invest in Some Quality Time
Time is such an important thing. It allows us to accomplish what we want. A lot of us get discouraged and think we can't achieve what other great individuals have done. Let me remind you that we all have 24 hours of a day, no matter who we are. Obama, Bill Gates, Oprah, Ellen DeGeneres, Steve Jobs, my mom, etc. all have the same amount of time we do. They obviously use their time more differently than me, because I spend most of my day thinking about my cat. My point is, let's not get discouraged because we think we don't have enough time to accomplish what we want to do. Let's make a pact to use our time wisely and choosing to invest our time in productive things.
Time is also another thing that seems to within reach, but is also always slipping away. There are people who complain there's not enough hours in the day and there are others who are bored out of their minds. Regardless, time is fleeting. I mean, it just turned 2018, but we're already in the middle of February! It is worth investing your time into things that will positively reward your life. Sure, it is flies by and there's not a lot of it. But make the best use of it. Do at least one thing that you want to do. For me, 2018 has been about spending more time with friends and my family. I use to seclude myself and say no to a lot of things only for the sake of saving a few dollars. I missed socializing and being out. Spend time with your friends and family. At the end of the day, there will be no regrets. I definitely don't regret that $15 cocktail because the quality of time I spent having meaningful conversations with friends was priceless.
Invest in Yourself
There are also some people who are way too nice and they're always quick to jump to someone's aid. I'm like that sometimes and I bust my butt off for others that I forget to do things for myself. I have this face mask that I have been trying to remember to use for months. I purposely put it on my desk so I can remember. But now I'm so use to seeing it there, it just doesn't even phase me. Something as simple as taking care of your skin is worth it. Read a book to learn and educate yourself, travel to be more open-minded, take a walk to reflect, or journal to discover more about yourself.
Not only is taking care of yourself physically crucial, your mental health is just as IMPORTANT. I have learned that it is one of the most neglected parts of our health. We may seem physically healthy on the outside, but man, internally, we can be so broken. I cannot stress this enough. LOVE YOURSELF and take care of YOURSELF. Because if you are not well, how can you take care of others or achieve the goals you have in mind? And remember, even if someone is smiling and seems to have it all together, they probably have other things they are dealing with internally. After all, we're all human. Let's all learn to love ourselves a little more each day and to be a better version of ourselves than yesterday.
Boots: Stuart Weitzman
Watch: Movado (similar)
Dress: from the depths of my closet
Check out Jasmin's photography website here and instagram @jasmint.photography