I haven’t taken up any additional hobbies, outside of this wonderful blog of course, no attempts at learning Mandarin, no spiritual awakenings or deeper dives inward, but in very simple terms a solid sense of peace.

With the world slowing down, it’s pretty easy to focus on the day to day, versus the pursuit of a better tomorrow. As an avid planner who finds extreme excitement around the idea of “what’s to come,” I’ve been perfectly happy channeling that energy into our next picnic or adventure at home. Which has been made possible by the fact that our options for excitement are most definitely limited right now.

But dare I say it’s a welcomed break from that hustle to keep moving forward, to keep striving, to keep “momentum” as I hate to say but have no other real term for. I’ve always tried to not focus on comparing myself so much to others, but I will confidently say I do look outward for inspiration, motivation and just general admiration (didn’t intend for that to rhyme!) I think we often confuse envy for something entirely negative, especially between women, when in reality it can serve as a message to us about what we ourselves truly want. Like this dress I am wearing here and finally purchased after drooling over for a long, long time, seeing it on so many other people, knowing it would be perfect for me too. Comparison isn’t the enemy but it can often weigh us down, make us redirect or stress, even with the best intentions. And I have been soaking in the pleasure of not feeling that weight, feeling more at ease and maybe even more in control of my life right now.

I wonder if this is something else other’s have experienced too? Or perhaps it’s just me growing up. Becoming more confident and comfortable in who I am and where I am at? Not really sure, but it’s the one really good feeling I have had since March, one I hope continues to evolve past the impact of COVID-19.

With that said, more about this dress I have coveted for quite some time. I had so much hype around this purchase that I started to worry about the possibility I’d be disappointed when it arrived. Surely enough, it felt perfect on and that’s because after years of obsessing over my clothes and personal style, I know what I like, what silhouettes feel best. Given my height I have always gravitated towards shorter hemlines and cinching at the waist. Of course I love ruffles and more importantly any shoulder detail that frames my chest. This dress is basically all of that in my favorite color and in an approachable fabric I can wear for almost any occasion during spring or summer. Likely year round in Los Angeles.

I originally purchased it for some upcoming birthday plans that unfortunately fell through given the current health crisis, but luckily it will work just fine for the rest of my summer days, walking around outside, with an extra dose of gratitude to live in such a beautiful place, one that can be enjoyed even without a reservation, without a set time and place to be, with just the fresh air, the landscape, the thought of us one day mask free, just you and me.