But it’s a Secret of Adulthood: Just because something is fun for someone else doesn’t mean it’s fun for me-and vice versa. I know so many people who find great pleasure in making careful choices-who really know what they like, and enjoy taking the time to search out things they love. This sounds like a simple thing, but it was a huge relief. I didn’t have to worry about the look of my shoes or my curtains if I didn’t want to. I finally realized that all I do, all day long, is express myself, in the way that does interest me-through writing. I don’t worry about whether it expresses “my unique style.” I stopped thinking much about my tastes, because it wasn’t a question that captured my interest. I don’t worry about whether they’re “me.” I want our apartment to be comfortable, attractive, and high-functioning.
Now I choose clothes that I like and that are appropriate. (I didn’t actually do much of this kind of self-expression, but I thought that perhaps I should.) Assay: A few years ago, I consciously decided that I’d no longer worry much about expressing my “personal style” through decisions such as my choice of clothes or the way our apartment was decorated.
