I survived the challenge

[Blu (Ontario)]

.... kilting and self-confidence works together...

Absolutely! Each builds on the other. When you muster the self confidence to wear your kilt, you kilt wearing will help you develope more self confidence to wear your kilt more. etc. etc.



Profound.

[bear]

McNice,
I have a brother who teaches English at the Danube International School in Vienna.
Do you know the school?

[irmavep]

Considered wearing a kilt, but have decided against it for the same reason I haven't worn one to work (as a therapist). I believe it would be too distracting from the issue at hand, whether my presentation or my client's issues.

I have to disagree with you in this. I WAS the bad kid you are going to talk to, and all the suit and tie dorks in the world meant absolutely nothing to me. It was the people that showed free thinking and self confidence that got me to realize that I chose a way wrong path. I can still remember seeing the "cool tattooed guy" telling me drugs don't fix anything they only destroy. It was then that I started to turn my life around, I had heard that same mantra for years before that, and it went in one ear then out the other, in my head it was just another jerk that didn't know what fun was.

I think if you walked in after the initial shock. You would not only have their attention, but their respect as well. It's not everyday they get to see a person confident enough to wear a kilt in public. You would be "cool" and drug free.

Just the thoughts of a now 33 year old ex-teenage drug addict.
For the record I haven't done any kind of drug for many years(aprox. 17), and I might have 1-2 drinks every 6 months or so.

[irmavep]

Good for you Graham, like everybody here knows the more visable kilts become the more they will be considered just onther option to wear.

Sorry about side comment above, after reading Riverkilts comments I became consumed in thought, forgot that it was your post, and felt I needed to interject my feelings on the subject, and as the old saying goes if I can just reach 1 kid I will feel like I made a difference.

[Graham]

Good for you Graham, like everybody here knows the more visable kilts become the more they will be considered just onther option to wear.

Sorry about side comment above, after reading Riverkilts comments I became consumed in thought, forgot that it was your post, and felt I needed to interject my feelings on the subject, and as the old saying goes if I can just reach 1 kid I will feel like I made a difference.

I'm glad you did interject!!
you made me realise I had misread Ron's post and thought he was saying that he WAS going to wear the kilt to his talk.

I agree with you, it would make the kids look up and listen! But that's just my view, it must be Ron's decision, he's on the job.

[mcnice]

yes bear absolutely
the world is such small. as i was in the french school playing rugby there, we could just play against a couple of other schools among the two american schools in vienna. unfortenatly we lost everytime ;)
it a really nice place there near danube. when are u coming next??

[Riverkilt]

Dang, you guys got me thinking...really appreciate the feedback/sounding board.

I sold caps and gowns and gymwear to schools for many years back in the 70's and came to see that each school is a lot like a ship, with the principal the ship's captain. I've had visions of appoplectic (?) administrators going ballistic over me wearing a kilt as a visitor to their classes.

Your posts reminded me that just last week I wore my Macdonald Tartan Sportkilt to the school auditorium to see a visiting band play. I received many positive comments.

My usual bifurcated warm weather "outfit" is an Hawaiian shirt (I'm very addicted to them too, own a bazillion), chinos cut in 5 pocket jean style, and ZCoil shoes. Add to that hair down to my butt and a LOT of tattoos. Jeez, maybe a kilt wouldn't make much difference after all.

Being the Lone Kilt Ranger in this small city of 7,000 maybe folks would just write it off to eccentricity.

Good point about not being one of the suit and tie folks. I try to avoid that like the plague.

Anyway, really appreciate the feedback and ideas...if the system "worked" we wouldn't have any problems with drug addiction and alcoholism.

For what its worth, I quit boozing and herbal farming 15 years ago.

Kilting up to head out to the local Pumpkin Festival today.

Ron

[Muddy]

Dude, It tickled me to hear about your other
clothing fetishes besides kilts. The hawaiin shirts
I mean. Very cool. I'm like that too. I do wear my kilts of course, but I also enjoy other styles of clothing and looks. I have a huge hat collection for instance. Scottish headgear, fedoras, english flatcaps and of course plain ballcaps of various sorts. I enjoy wearing them all and they don't all go well with a kilt. I also quite get a kick out of wearing my balmorals with regular gear (sportcoats and vests and such) gets just as much notice without the kilt sometimes (might be the long grey goatee too of course) .....anyway, hope this response is not too banal or off-topic. Just wanted you to know I enjoyed hearing about the hawaiian shirt thing man.
Cheers,
Muddy 8)

[Muddy]

Dude, It tickled me to hear about your other
clothing fetishes besides kilts. The hawaiin shirts
I mean. Very cool. I'm like that too. I do wear my kilts of course, but I also enjoy other styles of clothing and looks. I have a huge hat collection for instance. Scottish headgear, fedoras, english flatcaps and of course plain ballcaps of various sorts. I enjoy wearing them all and they don't all go well with a kilt. I also quite get a kick out of wearing my balmorals with regular gear (sportcoats and vests and such) gets just as much notice without the kilt sometimes (might be the long grey goatee too of course) .....anyway, hope this response is not too banal or off-topic. Just wanted you to know I enjoyed hearing about the hawaiian shirt thing man.
Cheers,
Muddy 8)

[Muddy]

Dude, It tickled me to hear about your other
clothing fetishes besides kilts. The hawaiin shirts
I mean. Very cool. I'm like that too. I do wear my kilts of course, but I also enjoy other styles of clothing and looks. I have a huge hat collection for instance. Scottish headgear, fedoras, english flatcaps and of course plain ballcaps of various sorts. I enjoy wearing them all and they don't all go well with a kilt. I also quite get a kick out of wearing my balmorals with regular gear (sportcoats and vests and such) gets just as much notice without the kilt sometimes (might be the long grey goatee too of course) .....anyway, hope this response is not too banal or off-topic. Just wanted you to know I enjoyed hearing about the hawaiian shirt thing man.
Cheers,
Muddy 8)