The sock drawer will tell you much about someone's life. That was my realization this week.

Think about it. Look at your socks. What do they say about you and how you live your life?

When I was in high school and college, I lived in athletic shoes and hiking boots. I wore white padded athletic socks almost exclusively. I had about two pair of non-white socks, which were worn a couple of times a year and lasted about ten years without wearing out. The white athletic sock stage persisted through my early mom years. I was in a point of my life where functional was more important than anything else. My clothes were simple, mix and match, easy care. A few years ago, I got sick of feeling sloppy all of the time. I started wearing more tailored clothing, a little dressier than before. My sock drawer become more varied. Multi-colored handknit socks rubbed heels with finer black and navy socks. Chunky wool hiking socks joined the drawer too. I recently noticed that my white athletic socks are occupying a record low portion of the drawer and only get pulled out if I am actually exercising.

Luis's sock drawer underwent a transformation too. For years, his drawer had white tube socks and heavy thermal socks with a few pair of dress socks languishing in the bottom. In recent months, his dress sock collection has grown by leaps and bounds, and those tube socks are hiding under the layer of argyles and stripes. The thermal socks? They are not even in the drawer any more. The changes in his sock drawer speak volumes about the changes in his life this year.

What is in your sock drawer?