My much younger self would have been shocked today:

I wear jeans as much as I love jean skirts,

Would had strongly suggested that I had strayed.

Now in childhood, it wasn’t always like this before.

Used to wear all kinds of mismatches, costumes, shoes, and

Even display self to explore.

Then one day became part of a group,

A strict fundamental sort, was very welcoming,

And had let me into their troop.

There were rules, too many to count.

We don’t do this or that,

All would come at the cost of the amount.

“We must wear skirts from now on,”

What I was told——so unfortunate to me that never happened before,

Was now the new change that was thrust upon.

“You would make boys lust and sin,

It would be your fault, and you wouldn’t look good in pants,”

The disheartening words I then let my mind enter in.

Hem must be way below the knees.

No slip of any kind should be showing nor any see-through,

And the butt part of the material must never have a tight squeeze.

For most of my teen years, I was a happy advocate.

After all, girls can do anything in a skirt!

Beliefs and dreams of mine back then seemed to be going straight.

Unfortunately, everything came crashing down when we had to leave.

For they then started teaching things that didn’t sit right,

Things that we knew wholeheartedly did not believe.

Looking back, I bet my parents felt awful.

Taking us away from one church to a different one,

But they wanted us to grow and live by the true Gospel.

I will admit, for two years I was grieved.

I thought I knew who I was, who I thought I was to be,

Used to be fully confident that my dreams would achieved.

Now, from one big church building to a tiny congregation in a small community hall,

I was not used to it, I wanted to go back, yet I knew what fundamentals taught

That they weren’t fully right in their teachings at all.

Through the next few years I still wore jean skirts,

I still believed in it and was very comfortable. Well, also didn’t want to distract

Guys and remembered all the fat girl insecurities that still hurts.

I got to be part of ministry groups in different states.

All of them kind people, working together, challenging good traits,

None was judging or condemning anyone in humiliating disgrace.

I met many women in jeans and pants, never wore in any sexual way.

They were all in heights, shapes, weights, shades, and all radiantly beautiful.

None of the gentlemen had a look toward the opposite gender like prey.

It was all very new thought to me;

In a new environment, a new life, would it be okay to change completely,

Even if it means not every one of the old friends will agree?

In this world, it says “Go for it! Rebel!”

Please understand, not everyone wants to change very quickly,

For patience takes time for a person’s life on a whole new level.

I studied the beliefs, asked questions, and many a time thought and prayed——

Change a lifestyle to wearing jeans, no turning back, explore, and create new dreams.

A part of me wanted to try, yet another was afraid.

What if I didn’t look good in pants because of no thigh gap?

How do I handle response, criticism, or judgment? Then again, I can no longer live in

The past, so out of questions and doubts I snap.

Getting back into wearing jeans felt…surreal yet weird.

I started wearing them at home, then later in town, then in other places.

I did get stared at by those who knew me and wished their stares disappeared.

Half a decade later I’ve gotten used to this living.

I have no regrets about this change, this chapter, the awesome fashion in my wardrobe.

A new kind of happiness called joy is worth every day reliving.

I have no grudges on those long ago by what they taught.

Sometimes many have good things to share, to teach, to learn, to encourage,

But in the end, self becomes the center instead of individuals they forgot.

I have a man who loves me for my heart more than my body.

New faces and strangers see me for my character, smile, testimony, and what I can give.

For the last few words to say here with my coffee:

Clothing does speak of a person but never use it to curse.

Have a lovely heart, a kind face, live joyfully, be a beautiful person always——

That was how I went to jeans from jean skirts.