“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.“
— Sophia Loren
SHOP THE LOOK:
Blouse – Finders Keepers (similar) || Culottes – Milly (in cream) || Sandals – Target (similar) || Bag – H&M || Hat – Forever 21 (similar) || Bracelet – c/o Monica Vinader || Ring – c/o Bauble Bar
Photos courtesy of Heidi of Wishes & Reality
Lately I’ve been reflecting a lot on Sed Bona and why I blog.
You may have noticed the myriad of changes I’ve been making around here — a new tagline (“Epicurean Inspiration from a Food & Fashion Photographer”), new post categories (especially for travel!), new shops (such as my Instagram Shop), and I’m about 80% done with a brand-new about page.
Not to mention my newly published Chicago Travel Guide.
It’s a lot of changes and all for a very good reason: I love writing this blog and I’m constantly seeking to improve and evolve it.
Most days recently I’ve been reflecting on how lucky I am to do something I love so much. Something so personal and something I’m so passionate about. After years of working in finance, grinding away, making good money but feeling so empty creatively, I feel like this blog and my return to my true passion of photography has given me wings.
Quite literally actually seeing as I’ve been on work trips both for the Finland Tourism Board and the Mexican Tourism Board in just the past 6 months alone.
I wake up every morning excited to “go to work”. I wake up every day excited for the adventures that await.
Spending so much of my time and energy on creating has filled me with more purpose than any 9-to-5 job ever could have. And — even though I just turned 30 at the beginning of August — I somehow feel younger than I did 7 years ago when my life felt very empty, alone, and dark.
Perhaps Sophia Loren really does have it right.
Perhaps the key to defeating age is not the amount of botox you inject into your skin to freeze your muscles. Perhaps it’s not the number of workouts you complete in a day. Or the amount of processed foods you cut out of your diet. Perhaps the real key is to exercise your soul. To find a creative outlet you return to time and time again — something that really utilizes your individual talents.
I will forever consider myself lucky and privileged to know what it feels like to do what I love for work each and every day. And to make my living from creating my vision of the world.
So thank you.
Thank you for reading and supporting this blog! Thank you for following along on the adventures. I know this creative outlet of mine would be nothing without so many wonderful souls supporting it.
