Mango dress (similar)
Vintage necklace (similar)
Aurate New York bracelet (c/o)
Linjer rings (c/o) (similar)
Location: The Fort Garry Hotel – Winnipeg, Manitoba
“Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear.” I remember reading those words, printed on every side mirror on every car sold in North America, for the first time when I was about six. It took me a while to understand the concept of perspective and really understand what that statement meant. What we see, in a mirror or anywhere else, is a reflection of ourselves as much as it is a reflection of reality. Reality, without getting too philosophical, is pretty relative, because we interpret it based on our perspective. And perspective is constantly shifting, but very often skewed.
In practical terms, that means the side mirror on your car door doesn’t tell you the whole truth. That’s why the manufacturer needs to print a warning on it. It gives pause, and leads to reflection, if only momentarily. And that pause is so necessary, because its the moment in which we remind ourselves that we need to be careful, that the mirror isn’t there to protect us, we have to do that ourselves.
When I look at these photos, the first thought that comes to mind is, “The woman in these images may be more haggard than she appears.” Everything is a question of perspective. But from my perspective, based on my limited experience of it thus far, 2021 has been a very long year. I am already tired. There is little to look forward to beyond a litany of complaints and frustrations because everyone else is tired, too. And while I wish they would be more polite about it (because I personally am exercising an incredible amount of restriant that I am not seeing reciprocated, at least in my day job,) I can’t blame them.
And when I feel tired, the person I see in the mirror is someone tired. Nothing like the rested, happy woman in these photos, enjoying a staycation after too much time spent at home. By contrast, the woman typing these words lives in leggings and fuzzy slippers. The highlight of her day, from Monday to Friday, is shutting down her work computer.
I am telling you all this not in the hopes that you will feel sorry for me, but because I suspect that many of you may feel the same. 2020 was a hard year for all of us. But it ended, and we were so hopeful that 2021 would be better. Maybe not even better, just different. In reality, so far, we’re just faced with more of the same. That, combined with ever increasing reports about vaccine delays, makes the outlook for the rest of the year seem increasingly grim.
That’s just my perspective. And it could easily shift tomorrow, if my work day is less fraught. When I step back from the mirror, I can see more clearly that we will get through this, even though it doesn’t always feel that way. The only way out is through, after all. But it is going to be a long, tiresome plod that, despite moments of happiness and glimmers of hope, is largely defined by frustration and disappointment.
I don’t look as haggard as I feel. My present circumstances skew my perspective and alter the way I perceive reality. But the woman in these photos is not me, at least not right now. She’s someone else, someone more relaxed and infinitely more glamourous. Someone who looks forward to the next day, and the one after it. There is a good chance we’ll become the same person again soon, but that’s not where things are at right now.
I say all of this because on the internet, particularly on social media, we often present nothing but our highlights. I am particularly guilty, personally, of simply leaving photos unposted on bad days, no matter how they look or when we took them. It’s more fun to share when I’m happy. (I’m sure I’m not the only person who feels that way.) I want to share inspiration and motivation, not moaning and misery. But the result of that is that you only see the best of me. And that’s not the whole story.
So, to put these photos in perspective and give them some context, I will be transparent; moments when I’m at my best are few and far between these days. With any luck, that will change sooner rather than later. In the meantime, if you’re feeling like I am – you are not alone.
I’m mostly just feeling sort of numb at this point. Every days just seems to bleed right into the next. I have noticed, sadly, that my ability to effectively manage work-related stress has just gone totally off a cliff while working at home. At least when I was leaving the house for work I had the ability to make a clean break at the end of the day when I got to leave the building and enjoy a commute home where I could listen to music or a podcast and just put the day behind me. Now I’m obsessing about work matters until late in the evening and often firing my computer back on well after 7 pm to do “just a few quick things.” You’d think in 10 months of working from home I would have built some better habits or at least a way to semi-preserve a work-life balance, but apparently not.
Courtney ~ Sartorial Sidelines
It’s a tough year my friend and these times are wearing on all of us. Luckily, I have a few good things to look forward to – and I’m SO grateful for that because it’s the buffer I need to ride this storm! Hope you’ll see the light soon and get the reprieve you need. In the meantime, excited for our Skype date and 100% on board with camel and red. What a gorgeous pairing!! xo
My Curated Wardrobe
I’ve always considered the calendar change in January to have been a poor idea. A fresh start when it’s dark and cold and even in the best of times it seems unlikely that anything good can come in January? (People in New Zealand may feel differently, but then again, they haven’t had nearly as rough a year as the rest of us either.)
I think 2021 still holds promise, though I suspect the rest of the winter will continue to feel like an extension of 2020. If only looking put together in photos is the best we can do, I’m sure we will keep at it until there is eventually more. I should also probably give a staycation a try, as it looks quite lovely, as does this dress accentuated by your delicate gold chains.