Kia ora,

Yesterday I had to buy new clothes for a work trip. I had to. It was compulsory... I promise.

I spent rather some time perusing the shop I’d decided would have something that would make me feel professional and happy - both of which were equally important in this particular purchase.

The reason for the rather-some-time was because, while trying on various versions of the same thing I always wear, I spoke at length with the very lovely lady “behind the counter”.

When I first got there I thought I was in a hurry... I had things to organise, and emails to clear, and housework to finish up before I left first thing in the morning! AAARGH!!!

But once I started talking - chatting about politics, frocks, fabrics, and being a Good Human - I realised in no way was I required to speed through this part of my day.

No one was putting that pressure on me, aside from me.

I came away from my shopping trip with a number of pieces of clothing that made me feel professional. But it wasn’t the clothes themselves that made me happy (well, they also did, obvs... but hear me out) - the uplifting interaction I’d had, with someone I was a complete stranger to when I first managed to get myself out of the house, had now reminded me why I get out of the house in the first place.

It’s a whole, amazing world out there! A world filled with people who genuinely care about people, and want to spend time with you - they want you to feel happy in your skin, and they want to help with that in whatever way comes easiest to them.

It’s easy to forget this when we spend all of our waking time on social and mainstream media - filtering facts and a cacophony of chaos...

On the drive home, I reminded myself that I’m also those people - I want to help people be happy. And the easiest way for me to help with that, is to be happy myself.

And that made me smile.

A lot.

(That, and the new blue frock - an absolute favourite of the day...)