Many things in our lives have changed in 2020. Over the past 6 months we have had to learn to live from a distance. We’ve had to try and appreciate the personal spaces we live and work in a little bit more.
For me, change has been the name of the game since the end of 2019. For work and personal reasons I decided I was finally ready to make a big move. On March 1st with the help of my mom and a few friends, I packed up my apartment in my beloved Los Angeles where I lived for 7 years. I moved back to my hometown of NYC.
I arrived back in NYC still looking for an apartment right as Covid isolation began. The same day I found my apartment our Soho shop location closed. It was March 13th and I had been back in NYC one week to the day and decided to embrace the change. I had no other choice.
Embracing Change
All the plans and planning that went into the decision to make the move no longer had any relevance. Our Venice location closed too and all of the events I had scheduled were cancelled one by one. It has been 6 months and I have not been able to return to LA. I love NYC dearly however, I miss LA almost as much. I had no idea that the last time I was there would be the final time I would get to enjoy the LA sunshine. It would also be the last time I’d enjoy the lifestyle, as well as see my beautiful friends and clients I’d grown to love and cherish in my time there.
Fast forward to today. I know embracing the change isn’t always easy. Even as I write this, I wonder how things may have been different if I remained in LA or returned to NYC sooner. As I sit and daydream a little more, I remind myself to stay focused in the present moment and love where I am now.
Over the past 6 months, our shopping landscape and the way we shop has changed dramatically. I used to be 50/50 on my online shopping vs in person. These days I’m more 80%-20%. I like to support some local businesses in my area or else I’d be 100% online. Six months ago I never thought that would be me.
Looking Back
In 2006 I put up my first eCommerce website at the suggestion of my Dad. I had been working around the clock at my full time property management job while simultaneously filling jewelry orders. With the confidence and support of many amazing people in my life, I decided to take my 5 year hobby and turn it into a full time business. Although I’ve always had the online store, I chose to open brick and mortar locations. Over the years I’ve worked at many in person events to get to know my clients and what they are looking for.
Here we are today, 14 years later and online shopping is where it is at. I am slowly embracing that change as well. I am now offering video appointments and outdoor meetings in the NYC area.
One thing thing that hasn’t changed is our Annual Summer sale. We are doing it a little differently this year. Friday, August 28th- Sunday, August 30th discounts will range from 20-50% off including free shipping. Please look for our emails this week as well as all of our social media pages for further details. If you’re not already on our mailing list please subscribe or email me and we will put you on- dana@danablairdesigns.com
Thank you for all of your love and support over the years. I hope that you are surrounded by love and are able to let go and embrace the change. xxoo
