To live for the hope of it all,

Hello everyone, August is already here and I had this Taylor Swift song stuck in my head for days hence the reference in the title.

I had this post in my drafts since late July, but had been really slow in completing it. Since I'm on standby duty today, and finally had a bit of time to spare this morning to focus on some writing, I made myself a nice little pot of peppermint tea with manuka honey and a glass of lemon water to get my groove on. I'm not usually like this, but this morning felt different, a good kind of different, so I decided that it's the day I will get this post done and dusted.

July has always been a special month to me. It's also a reminder that we're closer to the end of the year than we are from the start. It is indeed a time to do a lot more reflecting than a little. It is a month where you start to think about how close you are to all the goals you've set at the start of the year, all the hopes and expectations and how it aligns with the reality of the way things are at the moment. It really does make you think.

I've always been the kind of person who has my head above the clouds at all times, that sometimes I get so out of touch with reality. That's the essence of an INFP, I believe. I remember how hopeful I was for the year because it's a leap year and the year I turn 30, and I remain to be hopeful that good things will continue to happen this year.

I would say that this was the year I started saying yes to myself more often, taking trips for the sake of a mental break from reality whenever I had the chance to, and was in touch with my inner child, who doesn't want to miss out on any opportunities for relaxation of the mind, body and soul. This is the year I utilised my staff benefits a lot more than the past years I've been with the airline, really making the most out of it. 

This year, I wanted to spent more days living and creating moments for myself that doesn't necessarily have to be meaningful or unique to others, but they are to me and only me. 

I believe that everybody needs a reset button every once in a while, a break from life. At this age, I realised how much of a luxury it is to have time to yourself especially when you're free from other commitments. I don't see myself being this way for a long time, so I'm trying my best to treasure the time I have to myself, for as long as I can. 

The last week of July had been rather eventful for me. It's as if everything took a 180 degrees turn, all of a sudden. I’m thankful for it all. It also gave me the push to strive for my goals, even if it seems impossible at first. I don't want to stress myself thinking of the outcome. All I know is that what gives me the highest of highs is knowing that I've done myself proud because I did a good thing for myself. That's enough for me.

It’s already the start of August now, and I wanted to celebrate what the last seven months of the year had been for me, so I took myself out to catch a Californian sunset in Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles. It was honestly the best decision I’ve made before the end of July. 

I still remember how it felt like when the Uber driver dropped me off at the walkway, and I was greeted by the beautiful sky, preparing its descend as gracefully and elegantly as can be, slowly taking its time. I, then, took a nice stroll to the end of the pier to get an uninterrupted view of the magnificent sky. 

My little daydream was momentarily hijacked by a passer-by who decided to strike a conversation with me (and apparently, there was another girl who was alone, she was also harrassed by the same man so she came over to talk to me after). After a few of encounters like this with strangers, I've learned how not to offend a person by slowly excusing myself. I'd like to think that most people only have good intentions, but sometimes solo travellers are targeted for reasons that are not exactly innocent. 

I may not be the best person to give advice on this matter but I guess how I deal with such situation is to trust the energy (whether it's good or bad), be respectful yet firm,  and be absolutely wary of your surroundings at all times. It's best to leave the area as soon as you're able to if you sense that you're being followed.

I made my way from the pier to the beach, picked a quiet spot to sit and enjoy the rest of the sunset. All in all, I'm just really glad that I made time on my clear day for this, despite feeling so jetlagged and low on energy. It was something that my soul truly needed.

There's just something about a Californian sunset that hits differently.

I love the beach, the vibes, the sand, the sea, the view and the way the sky changes colour. It's the universe's gift to us, every day. A reminder that no matter what happens, the sun will rise and set again. And during those pivotal moments, there will always be something good to hold on to, no matter how fleeting they are. Live for the good momemts, and let the bad ones pass us by. Things will always be okay at the end of the day.

Hope is that one thing that keeps us going. The hope that tomorrow will be a better day than it is today. It keeps us moving forward even when life seems bleak. I'm still hopeful that I haven't lived my best moments in life yet, there's still a whole future out there for me to achieve what I've always wanted, to watch my dreams come into fruition. I'm still living for the hope of it all. 

I hope you will, too. 

Love, 
Ashhy