interesting, Amber... interesting on two fronts. One, your perspective of what I meant by "attitude" and two, your perspective of what you see as "attitude."

First, the matter of military uniform wear (yes, I am a retired Navy Chief). It has similarities and differences. The similarity is in the pride in wear and proper fit and proper appearance, and there is certainly a ritual involved there, of sorts, by necessity, and it begins when the uniform is sent to the cleaners. The difference is in an objective standard. What that uniform must look like, what undershirt must be worn, what socks must be worn, etc, etc, etc, are all dictated by an authority outside my control.

Next, what I meant by attitude.... I referred to your attitude as shown by your reasoning. You wish, as you said, to reflect well on your Master, and you reason out your preparation, your dressing, and your appearance on that basis, on that attitude. That is as opposed to wishing to show yourself off well for yourself, as an unattached woman might honorably do, which might lead you to the same care in preparation, dressing, and appearance.

I hope I was clear. Feel free to ask anything if I was not or if you want further.

In the end, if my little one appeared to meet me (we are in a similar situation to you and J) in a burlap sack, but she had good reasoning for doing so, I would respond totally differently than if she did not have good reasoning for doing so. I train for her mind to respond properly (and for me, that means clear, sensible, defendable decision making), and I simply know that her body will naturally follow.

Gear.