This Week in Photos: Perfectly Imperfect.

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With each breath that I take, every step that I make, and every conversation I engage in, I am made more aware of just how perfectly imperfect I am.

This week I was reminded of the beauty of imperfections from the basket of tomatoes I got from the farmer’s market to the health and lifestyle magazine that featured companies that were anything but healthy. Then there was the “buy” of the week that perhaps turned into “bye” of the week. I was at the store and came across a beautiful fully lined dress by Joe Fresh. I looked at the price tag and my jaw nearly dropped when it said, “$1.94” I know. I was shocked and then I got excited because where in the world can you get a dress for $1.94? So what did I do? I bought it naturally. What I didn’t realize was that I didn’t just buy a dress, I bought something that would challenge me to the core of my being.

I started thinking about the person who made the dress on the other side of the ocean. If I paid $1.94 for this dress, what was he/she being paid? Up to this point, I am ashamed to admit that I have closed one eye when it comes to clothes/shoes (it seems like more apparel companies than not are using sweatshop labour). Earlier this week, I shared my thoughts about organic food (you can read that post here) but when it comes down to it, are the principles and values any different between food and apparel? I sometimes wish I could turn a blind eye because it would be a whole heck of a lot easier…but I can’t.

So where does that leave me? It leaves me thinking about my purchasing decisions moving forward. It leaves me hungry to learn more and find companies who are doing good and doing well-companies like PACT Apparel (organic, fair-trade AND affordable especially when you use the coupon code FAMILY40 to save an additional 40%) and Oliberte (fair trade certified footwear founded in Oakville, ON by Tal Dehtiar). It leaves me considering the impact and influence I have on others and this world.

I am reminded of this quote:

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.

Helen Keller

This journey that I’m on is not easy…it’s inspiring.

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The most perfect basket of imperfect tomatoes…delicious nonetheless!
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Pastor John Gray (@realjohngray) declared it on Wednesday but like anything, you have to believe it before you see it! What do you need to shift in your life?
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Reading material this week…
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A fully lined dress for…$1.94?!? Yes, you read correctly. Who knew that this $1.94 would lead to a week of deep reflection and research into just where our clothes come from and how they come to be.
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Freshly made pitas filled with homemade organic hummus, roasted peppers, sautéed kale, brown rice with roasted tomatoes (those imperfect ones from the farmer’s market). #cleaneating #foodielove #nomnom
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A stroll through the park is a perfect reminder of how everything in nature works perfectly together.

ODE TO OLIBERTE (@oliberte)

A PACT to DO GOOD (@wearpact)

About Joann Lim Lesiuczok

Lifestyle Designer. Catalyst. Connoisseur of Life. Perfectly Imperfect. Foodie. Allergic to Nuts, Shellfish, and Mediocrity. Love Naps. Thought-Provoker. Soul-Stirrer. Multi-instrument Musician. Professional Dreammaker. Drew's Wife. JE SUiS. 1 Corinthians 14:1. When We Change The Way We Love, We Change The Way We Live. When We Change The Way We Live, We Change The Way We Love. #dangerouslove #generationamazing #lifeclass