The Grace in Good Enough**

9:02 AM—Ethan handed me my latte this morning with a slightly crooked foam heart. Not perfect. Not Instagram-worthy. Just tried. And instead of overanalyzing whether it was a metaphor or a sign, I laughed and said, "A for effort." He rolled his eyes but smiled—real, not performative.

Because here’s the thing I’m finally getting: Imperfection isn’t failure. It’s just human.

My sketchbook’s open to a design I hated yesterday—a draped sleeve that refused to cooperate. I almost tore it out. But this morning? I saw the potential in the mess. So I added a raw edge, left a seam unfinished, and called it intentional. My professor walked by, nodded, and said, "Interesting choice." Not praise, not criticism. Just acknowledgment. And that’s enough.

Here’s what’s shifting:

1. I’m not chasing "better" anymore. Liam did reply—"Gallery’s at 7 if you’re free." Simple. No fluff. A month ago, I would’ve agonized over the tone, the timing, the lack of emojis. Today? I replied "Sure" and didn’t second-guess it. No overthinking, no mental drafts. Just yes.

2. My creativity is learning to trust the process. That "failed" sleeve? It’s now my favorite part of the design. I used to think mistakes meant starting over. Now I see them as detours—not dead ends.

3. I’m finding peace in the unpolished. October in LA is all about golden light and slightly crisp mornings. I used to filter my life into aesthetic moments. Now? I’m savoring the real ones—Ethan’s lopsided foam art, Liam’s straightforward texts, my own messy, evolving drafts.

Ethan just messed up another latte and groaned, "Ugh, Mondays." I used to read into his moods—Is he annoyed at me? Is this a vibe? Today, I just handed him a napkin and said, "We’ve all been there."

Growth isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up—for yourself, for your art, for the people who matter—exactly as you are.

xx Mandy

(P.S. The gallery’s tonight. No overthinking the outfit, no rehearsing conversations. Just going. Who knew easy could feel this good?)