When suits fail and cufflinks win.

 

Few years back, when I voluntarily quit corporate life, little did I realize that I will be leaving behind a much bigger part of my life along with that decision. Business life is always demanding. Among many others, one thing they demand is how you carry yourself. Fundamental rule says you should dress like a business man. And this is possible only when you have an adequate wardrobe.

Over the years I had taken care of this need by expanding my wardrobe carefully. I had my collection of suits, matching ties, shoes for various occasion, assortment of watches, range of perfumes and many other paraphernalia like wallets, belts tiepins and cufflinks.

Interestingly, after a couple of months of my retirement I realized that most of these stuffs have become obsolete. Apart from the few occasions on which I used suit, ties and shoes, they remained unused most of the times. Whenever I open my wardrobe, there they are, occupying a major portion of the wardrobe, reminding me of an eventful past. I had retained most of them thinking I could pass on a few to my son.

My decision to quit was not a sudden one. I had thought about it carefully and had ticked almost all possible boxes. Still, I confess, I never thought what will happen to these materials, which once embellished my life. Though I still leave a considerable part of my wardrobe for them, they are neglected. Once they were an integral part of my life. I could not have stepped out of my house ignoring them. However, today they have all become insignificant in my life as my present engagement does not need them.

 As you decide to play different roles in life, you leave some of your old baggage behind. While things like suit, tie, shoes etc were inevitable, there were smaller materials like cufflinks, tie pins and so on which were avoidable. Still, they were bought because it was those small things which made me complete. Suit and tie were good enough. But it was that cufflink which added to the handsomeness. Though trivial, that is what made the picture complete. Those trifles added a lot of value.

Every time I open my wardrobe the hanging suits remind me about my past and present. They hang, like a border, between my past and present.

When my son turned an adult, I tried to coax and cajole him to use some of them. But for him those where far outdated. Still, I could force him to use my leather shoes, which was one of my prized possessions.

Last week, my son bought his new suit home. He needed one for his graduation ceremony. While at the shop, when the master was taking his measurements, I nostalgically thought of the first suit I stitched, which is still hanging in my cupboard. They took me back to some of those enriching days of my life. Not that I love the present life less.

As my son was trying his new suit, I understood there are few things which you cannot pass on to them. Those which are yours are only yours. When they grow up, they chose their path and along with it even the wardrobe.

Nevertheless, I felt happy when he came and enquired about the cufflinks. He needed them. I started searching for it and they were missing. I was very organized in my corporate life and knew where I had kept my things. Suddenly, I realized few things were missing. Son was bored by the search and soon left. They need instant gratification. But I could not leave them just like that. I ransacked the whole cupboard but could not place them. Then I remembered that it was kept it in my expensive shaving kit, which I had given to my son. They were still there but were faded due to long neglect. Of course, they have lost their shine and sheen. However, when I polished them a bit, the gleam and luster came back.

It made me think. The new role which I chose in life has made many things irrelevant. Like those cufflinks, I must have misplaced few things, though apparently insignificant now, which once added lot of value to my life. While preserving what I felt may be useful, I would have pushed some stuffs to the unknown corner. And in that process, I have forgotten that without those trifles, life will never be complete. It is high time I searched and found them back.

My son looked handsome in his new suit. When I saw him moving out, to start a new life, stepping literally into my old shoes, I felt proud. By wearing those cufflinks, which he felt made his attire complete, he left me a small but important message- instead of forcing old things on him, share those which will add value, and he will accept it with full heart. Suits may fail, but cufflinks can win.