Yes. As long as I was in employment, I had to wear my shoes and dress formally. I live in Chennai, India and in this climate, wearing a shoe with socks was always a pain for me and I hated it.
Then I left the job and became self-employed. Now I opted to dress the way I felt comfortable and the first thing I did was to get rid of shoes and wear open footwear. Over a period of time, I developed a distaste for wearing colorful shirts in variety of shades and designs.
I took a decision to switch over to plain white shirts and plain black pants. I have standardized on it and wearing so for the past 10-12 years comfortably!
When I became a mother I switched from classy and sophisticated outfits to a very relaxed and casual style. There is no need to put on your favorite silk shirt when it will surely be stained before you leave the house. I really used to take pride in my style but now it simply doesn't matter that much to me anymore.
I keep a few of my fancy things just in case but they are never worn now.
I re-integrated my thinking about holistic methods and business practice - yeah it changed my life!
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.