A Perfect Day

The last few months have been hectic at work. Fall is my “event season,” packed with conferences and trade shows across the country. It’s a fun, fulfilling time, but it’s also a lot. Being away from my family is hard, and while they sometimes travel with me, other times I’m on my own.

With all the hustle and bustle, there’s always a mountain of tasks to catch up on when I return home. In everything I do, I try to keep my 3-year-old close (stay tuned for next week’s newsletter on that), but this past Saturday, I wanted a day just for her—no work, no outside pressures.

To set the tone, I visited the Draper Utah Temple first. I needed that grounding, spiritual, and emotional reset. Then it was all “mommy time” with Arwen.

We began our day with yoga. She managed two minutes before climbing all over me, turning the rest of my session into an obstacle course! We ate breakfast together, held hands as we watched her favorite show, colored, danced, and played. The day was all hers.

I needed to get some shopping done, and although it’s easier with my husband along, today it was just us girls. Her favorite store is Costco, but it was so packed that we couldn’t even find a parking spot! So, we went to the mall instead.

At Sephora, my favorite make-up store, Arwen delighted in trying on every shade and sparkle she could find, leaving with lipstick, eyeshadow, and powder adorning her little face. We rented a little electronic car to drive around the mall, laughing as we dodged people and stores. We made silly faces in the dressing room mirrors, checked out all the toys, and tried on every fancy pair of heels we found.

At Target, it was time to shop for winter clothes. Arwen was so thrilled to pick out her own outfits—colorful pants, butterfly shoes, unicorn slippers, a leopard jacket, Bluey and Minnie sweaters. She hung each item on the cart, mimicking my shopping style. We spent four and a half hours together, and when we finally got home, she put on a mini fashion show for her dad, proudly displaying every piece she’d chosen.

I want to remember every bit of this day. Details make moments feel real and vibrant, but if I don’t write them down, I often forget. I remember the happy feeling but lose the specifics of what made it so special.

The same is true for spiritual experiences—if I don’t capture the details, I’m left with a warm feeling, but I miss out on the richness of why it mattered.

Why was this a perfect day? Because I spent it with my girl. It wasn’t just that, though; it was perfect because I didn’t let outside pressures steal my attention. I wasn’t worried about my to-do list. I made a conscious choice to be fully present, and it was amazing.

Moral of the Story: What does a perfect day look like for you right now? Each chapter of life offers a different vision of perfection, and that’s okay. If you haven’t had a “perfect day” in a while, take a moment to imagine one. Write down the details: What would you do? Who would you be with? Then, set aside a day to make it happen. Let go of outside pressures, and be fully there. At the end of that day, capture in a journal why it felt so meaningful. Remember—these days are anchors, reminders of what brings us joy and grounding. So let’s have more of them, shall we?

Erica ❤️🌺