Better days are coming.

In terms of my personal life, I am in a good place. A very good place, even. Work is amazing. My voice acting "career" has really taken of. Family life is relatively calm. I have a new happy crush. (Okay... Not new... Resurfaced would be the better term.) And my friendships - the ones that matter - are now stronger than ever.

However, I'd be lying if I were to say that I am completely content. I am not. There are days when I feel like an animal in a cage. Days when I wish I could break free, breathe in the fresh air, and really live.

I miss escaping the noise of the household, heading to an ultra cold coffee shop, finding my special spot, and consuming unsafe amounts of caffeine with my earphones on and music at full blast. I miss losing myself in rows and rows of books and graphic novels in my favorite bookstore. I miss drowning my bad vibes in my favorite bar and playing beer pong until I can no longer speak or see straight.

I even miss freezing in the cold meeting rooms at our bi-monthly work meetings as I observe the changes in my workmates' appearances, moods, and... weight. :p I especially miss going on one-on-one meal dates with Syrena over noodles and fruit shakes. And I miss biking down Aguirre and beyond with the wind whipping at my face mask-less face. AND MY GOD, DO. I. MISS. GETTING. WAXED!!!

So that's why I got dressed in this strawberry dress today. If you know me at all, I'm not really a dress person (unless it's an event or a special occasion), much less a pink person. But the message behind this dress is a special one.

First taking over TikTok during quarantine, the pink tulle dress is dotted with sequined strawberries with a plunging neckline built only for those with a much bigger "future" than mine. The original version of this dress was designed by New York fashion Designer Lirika Matoshi and costs quite a bit of money (or so I've heard), but getting sent this knock-off didn't change the message for me in any way. 

Aside from making you feel happier, the dress also makes you feel hopeful. It is supposed to symbolize that there are better days ahead. (It's just a bonus that it serves as a reminder to people that I am, in fact, a woman and not a bro.)

We may still be stuck at home right now, but this dress reminds me to keep dreaming. Dreaming of days when I can prance around in it at a museum, at a party, or even just along that street behind The Mall of Asia overlooking Manila Bay. (I'm easy to please.)

It allows me to dream of better days to come when traveling will once again be a constant part of my life. When I can head out and hear people gasp in shock to see me in a pink fluffy dress. Days when I don't rely on social media to interact with people. And days when I can honestly say that I am in love with life once again.

What do you miss the most right now?