what's the big deal about looking trendy, anyway?

I recently found out that my annual salary does not exceed the average cost of a wedding in the United States. I knew my income was meager compared to all my Northwestern colleagues. In one hour, they are getting paid twice, triple, and even quadruple times than I am. I thought it was a temporary situation for me as I was participating in an AmeriCorps program. But even after finding a full-time job, my salary stinks! I knew partly it was because I chose to go this way. To "help people". But I didn't know what kind of sacrifice it would require of me. I told God that I wanted to help others. But I didn't know it would be at the cost of losing my comfortable lifestyle. Nor did I ask for it.
The past couple years, I've learned how to become a scrooge. I avoid eating out, shopping, and other various social events. (Hence, being MIA for those who have been wondering why I never come out to social gatherings.) You could call it being economical, frugal, having great money management skills... But what is the result of all this? It should be something positive and good, right? But actually no. Just a lot of complaints. I complain about what I don't have. And clothes is one of them. Trendy, new, cute clothes. It doesn't help watching my sister feed her closet with new purchases on a weekly basis. It's only two items, she says. But monthly and yearly, it adds up!
This morning, I noticed she had added (just) two more pieces to her vast wardrobe collection. Tsk, tsk, tsk. I shook my head at her. I got ready within seconds, gloating about how quickly one can get dressed if there are only few options to choose from.

I got to work and looked down at my outfit. My shoes -- boots, purchased from Christmas giftcards from my sisters two Christmases ago. They are very roughed up, but they are my only dressy ones and I still wear them. Jeans -- they were actually my sister's that she purchased last year during one of her routine shopaholic weekends. She wore them once and decided they were too big, and handed them down to me. Shirt -- my sister gave me a giftcard she received for her birthday. She told me she didn't need it and told me to use it. Of course I took it and purchased the shirt with her giftcard. Sweater -- this was also another barely used "big" sweater that my sister handed down to me. I wear it almost every week. Even my nail polish, hair pins, and socks were bought by her.

Needless to say, I am very blessed to have my sister. God has somehow blessed her and blessed me. And in no way, does she ever belittle me for my decision to go in the public sector and have a stinky salary. She also encourages me to continue doing what I'm passionate about, especially in times when I feel like I want to give up. And I have done very little to thank her. Or blessed her back for all the things she's done in my life the past couple years.
So, here is my tribute to her -- Naners, you rock even though you call me an a-whole and try not to talk to me in the mornings. :D