To Write Love On Her Arms

The other day, during a workout session, I happened to glance down at my tank and came to a startling realization. In all these years, I failed to really mention one of the great causes in the world that I fully support and can relate to. I won’t go deep into my background, but I will say that I did go through an especially dark period that involved dipping into a low reserve of serotonin and the blurring of physical pain with emotional pain. And so, a little while later, after an unexpected breakthrough that led to self-recovery, I connected with TWLOHA.

In a nutshell, TWLOHA (To Write Love On Her Arms) is a non-profit organization devoted to helping those struggling with depression, self-injury, suicide, and/or addiction. It’s a great community of survivors and supporters who are dedicated to helping others who might not necessarily be fully informed and/or need a friend they can relate to and lean on. I went through my problems alone, and ultimately, I realized that being alone in a time of darkness is truly difficult. Even though I managed to pull myself out of the abyss, it may not be as easy and viable for others, and TWLOHA lets them know that it’s okay to need others. Years ago, when I first read the vision statement written by the founder, I was struck with awe and inspiration by her words.

Now, I wouldn’t exactly consider myself an active supporter (I don’t show up to events; I don’t read the blog updates) but I do donate the occasional support by purchasing the merchandise, specifically shirts. It’s like a win-win situation. After all, one of the unique features of TWLOHA is that most of its funding comes from its merchandise, rather than from government grants or donors. So, it’s cool that I help out one of my favorite causes, and in turn, I get to add some amazing, unique designs into my closet. And here is where I shall bring the topic back to this look of the day. This shirt (Here’s To The Possibilities) was recently purchased from the TWLOHA store. The design and message were what enticed me, but after receiving the shirt in the mail and trying it on, I fell in love with it even more. It’s a soft cotton and a beautiful heather grey color. The relaxed fit makes it all the more comfortable. As always, I’m a huge fan of pairing casual with formal to create what you may call an upscale casual appearance, so I matched the shirt with a burgundy skirt and finished off with pointed toe suede pumps that featured a low heel for walking ease and ankle straps (I’ve found that ankle straps help keep the heels of my feet from slipping out, because essentially all pumps size 5 and larger are too big for me).

Thanks for reading! I do apologize for the lengthy post, but it’s refreshing to learn something new every day (if you were unaware of TWLOHA prior to this), isn’t it?

For more information on TWLOHA, visit: www.twloha.com (and buy cute shirts while you’re at it!)

Top: To Write Love On Her Arms | Skirt: Missguided | Heels: Kurt Geiger | Bag: Michael Kors | Accessories: Morgan De Toi watch, Tiffany & Co ring, Michael Kors sunglasses