If you're like me, and tired of chasing the ever-evolving cycle of trends, this summer is the perfect time to turn to the rel...


If you're like me, and tired of chasing the ever-evolving cycle of trends, this summer is the perfect time to turn to the reliability of a capsule wardrobe. Think pieces that you can wear over and over again without getting tired of them. And just because they'll be in heavy rotation, doesn't mean they have to be boring. The best elevated wardrobe essentials offer just enough character to keep you looking effortlessly sharp.

When I'm thinking about the brands that have honed in on the art of timeless dressing, three little letters always come to mind: GAP. From the Americana denim to the exacting tailoring on those perfect white T-shirts, it's a constant go-to in the closets of the most stylish women I know.

With so many options to chose from, shopping can quickly become overwhelming. In an effort to narrow things down (and make getting dressed this summer easier than ever), I've used my editor's eye to curate a collection of never-fail pieces. Join me. Our summer glow up is just a few clicks away.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

The Breezy Pant

I'm always impressed by pieces that look effortlessly cool. Like these slouchy trousers. They offer just the right amount of volume without being obnoxiously baggy and they hug the hips in just the right spot. Plus, that butter yellow captures the spirit of summer perfectly.

Gap Linen-Blend Easy Wide-Leg Pant, $, available at Gap

The Easy-To-Throw-On Set

One of the longest-running conundrums of getting dressed is finding the right top to go with those bottoms. Well, a matching set instantly solves that problem. The breezy linen fabric is a must for sweltering weather. This one comes in multiple colors, but the pink version makes us feel extra happy.

Gap 100% Linen Oversized Shirt, $, available at Gap

The Summer Bag

Is it really summer if you don't pull out a crochet bag? Nope. Sure, you could go for a safe neutral or bring all of your outfits to life with a coastal chic red stripe that's undeniably chic.

Gap Crochet Stripe Mini Bag, $, available at Gap

The Perfect White Tee

When it comes to flawless white shirts, GAP dominates. The beauty is in the details—like the firm stretch cotton that hugs your body without losing its shape. It's the only shirt I constantly buy over and over again. Plus, it comes in more colors if you're looking for a way to make a splashy statement this summer.

Gap Modern Crewneck T-Shirt, $, available at Gap

The Wear-Everywhere Dress

Whether it's brunches, picnics, or barbecues, this is a dress you can keep in rotation. It looks just as great with sneakers as it does with sandals, which is a must for versatile dressing.

Gap Linen-Blend Drop-Waist Dress, $, available at Gap

The Lightweight Knit

Even with warmer weather on the horizon, you still need a lightweight sweater on deck, especially since summer means blasting air conditioners. This one is perfect for layering over a T-shirt or your bikini. Feeling sultry? Wear it alone as a top, too.

Gap Linen-Blend Tie-Front Cardigan, $, available at Gap

The Wide-Leg Jeans

Don't completely ditch your jeans this summer. You just need an option that feels lightweight and breezy. This pair is made with an ultra-soft tencel-blend fabric that isn't stiff or heavy.

Gap UltraSoft Baggy Jeans, $, available at Gap

The Must-Have Hat

In addition to sunscreen, a bucket hat is a non-negotiable for long days at the beach. This one comes with a fringed trim that makes it feel just as special as the warm-weather season.

Gap Frayed Bucket Hat, $, available at Gap

The Versatile Scarf

Wear it as a top, bandana, or a belt ... the options are endless with a silky, summer scarf. This one earns bonus points thanks to its stripe print, which is a seasonal staple.

Gap 100% Silk Bandana, $, available at Gap

The Cool Shorts

When it comes to investing in shorts in 2026, the Bermuda style is a clear winner. The longer length gives modest coverage while the loose silhouette offers that easy-going edge that feels so modern.

Gap 11" Mid Rise Longline Denim Shorts, $, available at Gap

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At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every  day  — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and...

At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every day — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and greatest products in our lives, from some cool new water bottle that’s been absolutely saving our lives to a state-of-the-art sleep product that’s changed our eight hours for the better. And gatekeeping isn’t in our vocabulary, so we’re here to share the wealth and highlight our favorite products, just for you, each month.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

Susan Devaney, Lifestyle Director

Image Courtesy of Susan Devaney
In 2019, while working as a writer at Stylist Magazine, I picked up the first book I ever read by author Deborah Levy, The Man Who Saw Everything, and I couldn't finish it. Months later, while working as a writer at British Vogue, I tried again. I picked up The Cost of Living and I devoured it. Now, I’ve read all her work. Her latest work, My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein, is simply wonderful. Following the lives of three female friends in Paris, Stein beautifully intertwines their lives with Stein's in this biography that mingles with fiction. I’m already awaiting her next book.  

Penguin My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein By Deborah Levy, $, available at Barnes and NobleImage Courtesy of Penguin
I’d already heard many great things about the Spanish city of Seville: it’s very pretty; it’s easy to walk around; it’s a foodie haven. Last month, I visited the city to see if these were all true. Staying at the Cristine Bedfor boutique hotel for a few nights, I discovered they were — and more. For starters, my hotel pick was in a prime location for walking to nighttime fun on the Alameda de Hercules, and morning sightseeing walks around the city taking in historic stops at beautiful Catedral de Sevilla and stunning Alcázar of Seville. 

Along the way, and dotted around the city, you’ll see many orange trees. Naturally, of course, I started my mornings in the city with multiple glasses of fresh orange juice served by the delightful staff at the hotel. Not to mention, a delicious yogurt bowl breakfast with Seville honey, too. For lunch, I ate tapas every day. Opting to go where the locals went, I tried all the dishes and every one was as tasty as the next. 

As a Scot, very hot weather is not for me, which is why when the heat rose in the afternoons I took myself off to the plunge pool on the hotel’s roof top — bliss! Did I mention I did so while sipping on a piña colada or two? What a life!

You can book a stay at the Cristine Bedfor Sevilla here.Image Courtesy of Cristine Bedfor
Every summer I hunt for a product that’ll sooth my cracked heels. Now, I think I’ve finally found it: The Inkey List’s Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick. For weeks I’ve been applying this before bed and my feet are feeling silky smooth, and ready for sandal season! Hurrah! 

The Inkey List Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Stick, $, available at The Inkey ListImage Courtesy of The Inkey List
I need to improve my grip strength, so my new and local Reformer Pilates studio is calling my name. But before I brave it, I’ve tried my hand at some at-home mat Pilates first. It’s tough going, but I’m steadily improving. To help me, this light blue Onyx mat has been an easy tool to get me going. Not only is it super comfortable, but it’s easy to clean and store away after use. Wish me luck! 

Onyx Onyx Yoga Mat, $, available at OnyxImage Courtesy of Onyx
A few years ago, I took a two-week trip around Japan and I loved it. Ever since, I’ve been clinging to the hope that one day I’ll get to return and see more of its beauty. In the meantime, I’ll just indulge in all things Japanese, especially the food. Recently, I tried a donburi lunch offering at ROKA in Mayfair in London. From crispy prawn sushi to spinach leaves drenched in sesame dressing to sake teriyaki salmon, the dish instantly took me back to Japan. Delicious! 

ROKA's donburi lunch is priced at £19.50 ($26) pp. Available every Monday to Friday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Credit: RusneDraz/ROKA

Jacqueline Kilikita, Beauty Director

Image Courtesy of Jacqueline Kilikita
I’m not so secretly obsessed with the Tudors and all things Anne Boleyn, so this new book by historian Tracy Borman is right up my alley. It’s fiction but set in a very real place: Hever Castle in England, where Anne grew up with her two siblings, George and Mary. The story reimagines life inside the Boleyn household — a tale of love, ambition, and, eventually, downfall. Borman has a knack for taking historical facts and spinning them into devour-worthy stories (I own most of her books) so I trust I’ll get through her latest work of fiction in no time when it arrives this week. 

Barnes and Noble The House of Boleyn: A Novel By Tracy Borman, $, available at Barnes and NobleImage Courtesy of Barnes & Noble
The house we’ve just bought has a breakfast bar, but the previous owners took the matching chairs with them, so I’ve been on the lookout for something that’s stylish but is comfy enough to sit and eat on — and even work on sometimes — as we don’t yet have a dining table. These swivel bucket bar stools with a wooden frame are cute and I’ve just bought them in the Wayfair Memorial Day sale.  

Wayfair Saula 34.75'' H Swivel Bucket Bar Stool, $, available at WayfairImage Courtesy of Wayfair
My partner and I just moved into a new home and we’re already thinking about entertaining. I’m currently loving all things chrome — glasses, dessert coupes, the works — and I simply had to have this oyster serving platter. I don’t actually like oysters, so I won’t be serving them at parties (and I’m also not made of money). I’ll probably just keep it on display.  

beatriz ball Beatriz Ball Ocean Oyster Medium Bowl, $, available at NordstromImage Courtesy of Nordstrom

Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer

Image Courtesy of Karina Hoshikawa
My husband and I love going to concerts and live shows, and have always been good about bringing ear plugs to protect our ‘drums. (FYI: Noise-induced hearing loss is cumulative and irreversible — two words you don’t want to see paired together!) I usually bring a freebie pair of foam earplugs that I got from planes or hotels, but I recently upgraded to Loops, and what an upgrade it’s been! Aside from the sustainability factor (I’m trying to phase out single-use products where I can), these are sleek as can be; they truly look like a fashion accessory when I’m wearing them, and the emerald green colorway is so unique. I also love that the Switch 2 model has three levels of sound modulation (controlled by a tiny dial) so I can cycle between Quiet, Experience and Engage modes — three different levels of sound modulation).  

Loop Earplugs Loop Switch, $, available at Loop EarplugsImage Courtesy of Loop
I’m Japanese, and love nothing more than a crisp glass of sake to go along with my dinner. I was gifted a bottle of TYKU’s Junmai Ginjo, and it was the ultimate surprise. It’s bright, clean, but still flavorful — and pairs beautifully with my go-to takeout sushi. It has subtle fruity-floral notes of peach and vanilla, but is definitely not overly sweet at all. Although the brand is based here in the States, it brews its bottles in Nara, the sake capital of Japan (you may have also seen the famous deer park there). And at just under $30, it’s an absolute steal — and perfect for sake lovers and newbies alike. 

TYKU TYKU Black Super Premium Junmai Ginjo Sake, $, available at TYKUImage Courtesy of TYKU

Lisa Dionisio, Newsletter Director

Image Courtesy of Lisa Dionisio
My apartment is entering its “stripes” decor phase. I’m really drawn to mixing and matching complementary stripe patterns and this Emma Chamberlain x West Elm bath mat is such a fun addition to my bathroom. It’s absorbent and soft and easy to match with towels and accessories. Next on my wish list are these stripe bedsheets to complete my design makeover. 

West Elm Emma Chamberlain Stripe Washable Rug, $, available at West ElmImage Courtesy of West Elm
I’m very susceptible to cute dishware and this Le Creuset blueberry cocotte was an instant purchase from my feed. Do I bake or make any sort of fruit cobblers? No. But I love that these mini cocottes are microwave safe and dishwasher friendly. It’s perfect for me to create single-sized servings of soup, oatmeal, ice cream, or whatever I can dish up. Or for those less kitchen-inclined, it makes a fun knickknack container or jewelry holder for your coffee table. It also comes in a strawberry and peach designs that I currently have in my cart. 

Le Creuset Le Creuset Stoneware Blueberry Mini Cocotte, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of Le Creuset/Amazon

Alexis Parker Bennett, Shopping Partnerships

Image Courtesy of Alexis Parker Bennett
I’ve been looking for fun easy ways to bring the airiness of summer into my home. I came across this comforter and it has completely transformed my bedroom. I love the dreamy, calming neutral shade. But the best part is the textured detail that takes the beige bedding to the next level. Plus, it’s cuddly soft and breathable, which is an essential for summer nights. 

Wayfair Bedsure Boho Tufted Comforter Set, $, available at WayfairImage Courtesy of Wayfair

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“I just turned 30 a few months ago and I was in a 10-year relationship . I’d literally been with her for my entire 20s. I rea...

“I just turned 30 a few months ago and I was in a 10-year relationship. I’d literally been with her for my entire 20s. I realized I wasn’t where I wanted to be in life at all. I’d barely done anything. I wanted to change that, and I just didn’t think I could do it with her,” Stephen, 30, who only wants to share his first name to protect his identity, tells Refinery29. Now, he’s going through breakup guilt.

Stephen was the one to initiate the breakup with his girlfriend of 10 years. “It would have been easier for everyone if someone had been a dick, if there had been something for one of us to blow up at each other over,” he says. “Something to make us hate one another.”

“The hard thing was, it wasn’t about her,” he continues. “I wanted a different life, and hating my current life meant I couldn’t give the relationship everything I had. It wasn’t her fault, but that’s so difficult to say in a way where I’ll be believed.”

It’s now been three months since Stephen broke up with his girlfriend, and he’s struggling with overwhelming guilt. “I feel so guilty for leaving that I can’t sleep. I really don’t want to get back together. I know I made the right decision, but it’s hard to feel happy with it because I feel like I’ve ruined her life,” Stephen explains.

The majority of us will know the pain of a relationship ending all too well. But those breakups where things have simply come to an end, when you’ve fallen out of love but no one has done anything particularly bad, are uniquely hard to endure.

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Is it normal to feel guilty after a breakup?

No matter how they’re delivered, breakups always hurt, and that can result in overwhelming guilt for the person doing the breaking. It’s our instinct, in those situations, to make the breakup as easy as possible for the person on the receiving end. We want to time it perfectly, explain it perfectly and leave everyone without emotional scars. But usually, our efforts to soften the blow of severed ties are in vain.

This is simply known as breakup guilt, and it can be an intense and ruthless emotion. Elena Touroni, consultant psychologist and co-founder of The Chelsea Psychology Clinic based in London, describes breakup guilt simply as the intense guilt we feel after leaving a relationship.

“We may find ourselves ruminating over the break up and the role we played in it and feeling like we’re a ‘bad’ person for ending the relationship,” Touroni tells Refinery29. “When we’re feeling guilty we might experience feelings of shame and doubt ourselves and our decision. It can even lead to us isolating ourselves.”

Touroni says break up guilt is quite common. “It can be disappointing when a relationship doesn’t work out, and we may feel bad for hurting another person’s feelings,” she says. “Of course, some people are more likely to experience this than others, depending on the circumstances around the break up and a person’s own vulnerabilities.”

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Why do we feel breakup guilt?

Touroni explains that we can feel intense breakup guilt, even when it’s obvious that the relationship should have ended. “We can still be paralyzed by guilt, despite knowing that it was the right decision. This is because they are two separate things,” she says. “Our reasons for ending the relationship may be clear, but the guilt is usually a result of feeling as though we have hurt another person.”

“When there is no clear-cut reason for ending the relationship, it can sometimes be harder,” she adds. “This is because it’s easier to externalize an emotion. Blame allows us to avoid taking responsibility for our own part in a relationship ending.”

Like Stephen, Jess*, a 22-year-old HR assistant, is also experiencing intense breakup guilt. “I recently called off my engagement and I feel like I’m just going crazy,” she tells Refinery29. “I thought I was so ready to dive with him and get married and spend the rest of my life with him. And then one day I didn’t feel that way anymore.”

“I, admittedly, handled the breakup really badly,” she says. “I didn’t know how to leave without a proper reason, so I ended up creating them. We got into so many horrible arguments that could have been avoided. I think we probably could have been friends if I’d gone about it differently.”

Now, she’s struggling with breakup guilt. “It’s been seven months since I called the engagement off and I’m still lucky if I make it through the day without feeling a horrible twang of guilt over what I did, how it must make him feel,” she says.

Like all emotions, guilt serves a function. It doesn’t just exist to hurt us. Touroni explains that guilt is not inherently bad, in and of itself. If there’s a specific thing you said or did (more specific than the breakup itself) that’s causing the guilt, such as the way you spoke to a partner or a Really Bad Thing (cheating, shouting, etc.), your guilt might be a sign you need to change your actions.

“The purpose of guilt — when it is justified — is to get us to change our behavior or to make amends when we have hurt someone,” Touroni explains. “With this context we can seek to understand whether the emotion is justified or not and whether we need to take action. If not, we can take steps to regulate the emotion and remind ourselves that no matter how hard it may feel at this moment, we made the right decision.”

DashDividers_1_500x100

How do you deal with breakup guilt?

Regardless of whether your guilt is there for a reason or it’s just creeping up on you over the breakup in general, there are steps you can try to lessen that all-consuming feeling.

Touroni says if you’re suffering from breakup guilt, you need to acknowledge the guilt for what it is. It’s simply a feeling — nothing more. She recommends reminding yourself of this by saying, I’m feeling guilty, but I am a good person. You can say this in your head, out loud, write it on your mirror, whatever you need.

“You also need to be kind to yourself,” says Touroni. “Breakups are hard. Take extra good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest, and allow yourself to feel all your feelings. The latter might be helped by trying journaling — getting your thoughts and feelings down on paper can be a helpful way of processing a break up.”

While it is common to feel some level of guilt after a break up, it’s important that we move through it. In the long term, guilt can end up having a negative impact on our health and lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to Touroni.

It’s also important to remind yourself that guilt is temporary. It will eventually pass, as all emotions do. Touroni says the word emotion comes from the Latin word emotere, which means energy in motion. “Emotions are like waves,” she says. “They rise, peak, and eventually pass in their own time.” So allow the emotions to pass through you without judging yourself, and they’ll eventually leave. It’s hard to break the habit, but shaming ourselves only prolongs the time guilt sticks around.

If breakup guilt is seriously kicking your ass, Touroni says therapy is also an option. We know that therapy is a great place to explore feelings and work through complicated emotions like guilt or self-blame. That goes for breakups too.

It’s also important to keep in mind that, as harsh as it may seem, it’s not your responsibility to guard another person’s feelings over your own. Of course, as partners, we should take care of one another. But breaking up when the relationship is no longer right is ultimately a very caring thing to do for you and your partner. It’s never right to avoid difficult conversations, and not help yourself, in order to protect someone else’s emotions.

As Touroni says, “when we refuse to forgive ourselves for ending a relationship, what we are really saying is that we don’t trust ourselves and our own judgment.” Acceptance is key. Ending a relationship and starting again, especially when no one has done anything wrong and the relationship has simply served its time, is an incredibly brave thing to do.

*Names have been changed to protect identities.

This article was originally published in May 2023 and has since been updated.

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R29 babes, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces on June 8th, and collectively, this can feel like emotional e...

R29 babes, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces on June 8th, and collectively, this can feel like emotional editing mode. Last quarter moons help us release, refine, and reassess before the next lunar cycle begins. In Pisces, that process becomes less logical and more intuitive. You may realize you’re emotionally attached to a version of the future that no longer fits, a coping mechanism that once protected you but now exhausts you, or a dream that needs restructuring rather than abandoning. There’s no need to force certainty this week. Instead, notice where you need more trust, more rest, or simply more honesty about what your nervous system can realistically sustain.

Then on June 12th, Uranus in Gemini squares the North Node in Pisces, and here comes the collective wake-up call. The North Node in Pisces has spent many months teaching us surrender, intuition, spiritual alignment, compassion, creativity, and the ability to trust what cannot always be quantified. Uranus in Gemini, meanwhile, moves fast, questions everything, opens seventeen tabs mentally, and wants reinvention immediately. The square between them can feel like realizing inspiration without structure becomes chaos, while overthinking your path disconnects you from your intuition entirely. Some people may suddenly pivot directions, question long-held plans, experience unexpected news, or recognize they’ve been chasing stimulation while quietly ignoring what actually feels meaningful. The healthiest way through this transit is curiosity without impulsiveness. Stay adaptable, but grounded. Let new information reshape your plans without abandoning your deeper values in the process.

By the weekend, the atmosphere brightens considerably. Venus enters Leo on the 13th, bringing more warmth, confidence, creativity, romance, visibility, and a stronger desire to enjoy life instead of endlessly processing it. Then the Gemini new moon on the 14th arrives with fresh-start energy around communication, learning, networking, social connection, experimentation, and letting yourself try something new without demanding perfection from yourself first. This is excellent energy for introducing yourself differently, sharing ideas more boldly, refreshing your style, reconnecting with your inner child, or saying yes to conversations and experiences that expand your perspective. This week starts off introspective and emotionally complex, and it ends by reminding us that growth can also be playful, social, and surprisingly fun.

Read your horoscopes for your Sun and Rising signs for the most in-depth forecast.

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Aries Sun & Rising:

Aries, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your healing, solitude, and subconscious sector, so your first instinct may not be “go harder,” surprisingly enough. You may feel more tired, reflective, and more aware of emotional clutter you’ve been carrying quietly while staying productive on the surface. This is good energy for closing tabs mentally and emotionally: catching up on sleep, stepping back from draining dynamics, finishing something you know you’ve outgrown, or simply admitting where you need more support. Not every problem needs immediate action. Some things need space to untangle.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your communication sector squares the North Node in Pisces, and this can feel like your mind moving faster than your spirit can process. Some Aries may find themselves questioning plans, changing their minds rapidly, doom-scrolling instead of resting, or mistaking mental activity for genuine clarity. The way through this transit is not shutting your curiosity down, but rather slowing it down enough to hear yourself think. You don’t need to act on every thought the moment it arrives.

By the weekend, the atmosphere changes noticeably. Venus enters Leo on the 13th and the Gemini new moon follows on the 14th, bringing fresh fire into your creativity, communication, romance, and self-expression sectors. This is excellent energy for setting intentions around content creation, writing, dating, launching ideas, reconnecting with hobbies, improving your social life, or simply speaking with more confidence about what you want. The second half of the week reminds you that clarity returns faster when you allow yourself some joy, movement, and room to experiment.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Taurus, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your friendship, community, and future vision realm, so you may find yourself reassessing who and what you genuinely want to keep building toward. Certain social dynamics may feel complete, certain goals may need refining, or you may simply realize that not every opportunity deserves your energy. This is a useful week for stepping back from group noise, social comparison, or timelines that no longer feel like yours. Ask yourself which plans still excite you when nobody else’s expectations are attached to them.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your money and self-worth zone squares the North Node in Pisces in your future-oriented sector, and this can feel like a reality check around abundance, purpose, and sustainability. You may have exciting ideas about where your life is headed, but this transit asks whether your finances, confidence, or sense of value are actually supporting that vision. Some Tauruses may feel tension between wanting security and needing to adapt faster than feels comfortable. The way through this is flexibility without panic. You don’t need to abandon your long-term dream, but you may need to update how you’re funding it, pacing it, or defining success altogether.

By the weekend, the energy becomes noticeably warmer. Venus enters Leo on the 13th and the Gemini new moon follows on the 14th, bringing fresh momentum around home, money, self-worth, and emotional grounding. This is strong energy for setting intentions around income, pricing, budgeting, creative talents, or building a living situation that feels more aligned with who you are now. Let yourself enjoy the reset. Stability is still your language, but this weekend reminds you that stability can evolve too.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

Gemini, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your career and visibility sector, so you may be reevaluating professional goals, leadership roles, or the version of success you’ve been chasing. Something may need adjusting before you move into your next chapter. This could look like letting go of a timeline that no longer fits, refining a project, or admitting that certain ambitions matter less than they used to.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in your sign squares the North Node in Pisces in your career sector, and this can feel mentally loud. You may feel pulled between the version of yourself that wants experimentation, reinvention, and freedom, and the part of you that still wants clarity around purpose, direction, or professional meaning. New ideas, sudden pivots, unexpected news, or changing priorities can surface quickly now. Try not to interpret every moment of uncertainty as a sign you’re on the wrong path. Sometimes this transit is simply showing you that the old blueprint can’t contain the person you’re becoming.

By the weekend, the mood shifts considerably. Venus enters Leo on the 13th, softening your communication style and bringing more confidence, charm, and creative expression into your everyday interactions. Then the Gemini new moon on the 14th lands directly in your sign, offering one of your clearest reset points of the year. Set intentions around identity, appearance, confidence, personal goals, creative projects, or how you want to introduce yourself to the world. You’re allowed to change your mind, your style, your story, and move forward with more clarity than you had even a month ago.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

Cancer, the week begins with the last quarter moon in fellow Water sign Pisces moving through your expansion, travel, and belief sector, so you may find yourself reassessing where you’re headed and whether your current mindset actually supports the future you say you want. This is a strong week for releasing limiting beliefs, unrealistic timelines, or philosophies that once guided you but no longer resonate. You don’t need every answer right now, but you do need enough honesty to admit where your life has outgrown a certain narrative.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your spirituality and subconscious sector squares the North Node in Pisces in your expansion sector, and this can feel surprisingly internal. Restlessness, vivid dreams, unexpected realizations, changing spiritual beliefs, or a strong sense that something beneath the surface is shifting without a clear instruction manual attached to it can all be part of this transit. You may want certainty while simultaneously feeling called toward surrender. Try not to force clarity prematurely. Quiet reflection, journaling, therapy, spiritual practice, or simply stepping away from constant stimulation can help you distinguish intuition from anxiety.

By the weekend, the mood becomes lighter and more grounded. Venus enters Leo on the 13th, bringing warmth and magnetism to your money and self-worth sector, while the Gemini new moon on the 14th offers a fresh start in your healing and subconscious sector. This is excellent energy for setting intentions around rest, emotional boundaries, spiritual growth, or releasing patterns that quietly drain your energy. The week ends by reminding you that growth isn’t always loud or visible. Sometimes it looks like finally feeling safer inside your own mind.

Leo Sun & Rising:

Leo, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your depth, intimacy, and shared resources sector, so emotional honesty becomes hard to avoid. You may be reassessing financial agreements, emotional boundaries, trust dynamics, or the ways you merge your time, money, and energy with others. This is a useful week for closing financial loops, clarifying expectations, or simply acknowledging where vulnerability has felt more complicated than you expected.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your friendship and community sector squares the North Node in Pisces in your intimacy sector, and this can bring tension between your social life and your deeper emotional needs. You may realize that certain friendships no longer align with the version of yourself emerging beneath the surface, or that group dynamics, networking opportunities, or future plans are asking you to evolve faster than your emotional comfort zone prefers. The challenge here isn’t choosing between freedom and closeness, but learning how to maintain individuality without avoiding emotional depth altogether.

By the weekend, the atmosphere shifts dramatically in your favor. Venus enters your sign on the 13th, immediately boosting confidence, visibility, creativity, and your desire to enjoy life more openly. Then the Gemini new moon on the 14th lights up your friendship and future sector, making this an excellent time to set intentions around collaboration, community, social media, long-term goals, or surrounding yourself with people who genuinely energize your vision. Let yourself be seen this weekend. Your future benefits from your presence.

Virgo Sun & Rising:

Virgo, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your relationship sector, so partnerships, friendships, collaborations, and emotional reciprocity come under review. You may be noticing where a dynamic feels balanced, where it needs clearer communication, or where you’ve quietly adjusted yourself around someone else’s needs for longer than you intended. This is a useful week for refining expectations, releasing old resentments, or becoming more honest about what partnership actually requires from both sides.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your career sector squares the North Node in Pisces in your relationship sector, and this can feel like tension between professional evolution and personal connection. A sudden work opportunity, change in priorities, public visibility shift, or new ambition may challenge the balance you’ve created with important people in your life. Some Virgos may feel pulled between independence and partnership, or between the life they’re building publicly and the emotional agreements sustaining them privately. You don’t need to solve the entire equation immediately, but flexibility will help more than perfectionism this week.

By the weekend, the energy softens and opens up creatively. Venus enters Leo on the 13th, bringing more sweetness to your healing, solitude, and spiritual sector, while the Gemini new moon on the 14th lands in your career and visibility sector. This is powerful energy for setting intentions around leadership, reputation, long-term goals, creative direction, or the professional identity you’re stepping into next. The week may begin with questions about balance, but it ends with a much clearer sense of where your ambitions are asking you to grow.

Libra Sun & Rising:

Libra, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your routines, wellness, and daily life sector, so you may be taking a closer look at what’s actually sustainable. Workload, sleep, habits, boundaries, screen time, your relationship to productivity… all of it becomes easier to notice when something feels slightly off. This is a useful week for simplifying systems, clearing clutter from your schedule, or admitting that certain obligations are taking more than they’re giving back.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in fellow Air sign Gemini in your expansion sector squares the North Node in Pisces in your wellness sector, and this can feel like tension between the exciting life you want to build and the practical reality of your energy levels, body, or everyday responsibilities. You may want to say yes to every opportunity, trip, collaboration, or idea while quietly knowing your nervous system needs a more thoughtful pace. The lesson here isn’t choosing between growth and stability. It’s building a version of growth that your real life can actually support.

By the weekend, the atmosphere becomes much more social and creatively stimulating. Venus enters Leo on the 13th, bringing warmth to your friendship and community sector, while the Gemini new moon on the 14th lights up your expansion sector. This is excellent energy for setting intentions around travel, learning, publishing, spirituality, dating outside your usual type, or simply letting your world become bigger than it was before. The week ends by reminding you that new experiences often arrive disguised as simple conversations or unexpected invitations.

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

Scorpio, the week begins with the last quarter moon in fellow Water sign Pisces moving through your creativity, romance, and inner child sector, so your attention turns toward what feels meaningful, joyful, and emotionally alive. You may be reassessing a romantic dynamic, a creative project, or simply your relationship with pleasure itself. This is a strong week for releasing perfectionism around self-expression and being more honest about what actually brings you fulfillment beyond productivity or obligation.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your intimacy and shared resources sector squares the North Node in Pisces in your creativity sector, and this can stir up tension between emotional vulnerability and personal freedom. Questions around money, trust, commitment, sexuality, or emotional merging may intersect with your desire to create, date, play, or simply live more authentically. Some Scorpios may realize they’ve been overthinking joy, overcomplicating intimacy, or waiting for perfect certainty before allowing themselves to move forward. Let complexity exist without needing immediate control over every variable.

By the weekend, the energy becomes noticeably bolder. Venus enters Leo on the 13th and activates your career and visibility sector, making you more magnetic professionally and more willing to take up space publicly. Then the Gemini new moon on the 14th offers a fresh start in your transformation and shared resources sector. This is powerful energy for setting intentions around finances, emotional healing, intimacy, debt repayment, investment strategies, or redefining what security and trust look like for you moving forward.

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

Sagittarius, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your home, family, and emotional foundation sector, so your focus naturally turns inward before the pace picks up again. You may be reassessing family dynamics, living arrangements, emotional boundaries, or simply what helps you feel grounded after an intense stretch of growth and movement. This isn’t a week for pretending you’re fine while quietly running on fumes. Make practical adjustments where you need more stability, privacy, or emotional breathing room.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your relationship sector squares the North Node in Pisces in your home sector, and this can feel like relationship developments moving faster than your emotional comfort zone prefers. A partner, collaborator, friend, or important conversation may challenge old ideas about security, commitment, or where you belong. Some may feel pulled between maintaining independence and building something more rooted with another person. Stay flexible without abandoning your instincts. Not every unexpected shift is a problem to solve; some are invitations to update what partnership means to you now.

By the weekend, the mood becomes much lighter and more future-focused. Venus enters fellow Fire sign Leo on the 13th, bringing warmth, confidence, and a stronger appetite for adventure, while the Gemini new moon on the 14th lands directly in your relationship sector. This is excellent energy for setting intentions around love, collaboration, dating, business partnerships, or improving how you communicate in your closest connections. The week begins privately and emotionally, and ends with clearer momentum around who you want beside you in the chapters ahead.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

Capricorn, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your communication and mindset sector, so you may be reconsidering a conversation, a decision, or the story you’ve been telling yourself about a situation. This is useful energy for editing, clarifying, journaling, studying, or finally saying something with more precision and less emotional buildup attached to it. Notice where overthinking has replaced actual communication.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your work and wellness sector squares the North Node in Pisces in your communication sector, and this can feel like your schedule, responsibilities, or nervous system demanding an update to the way you operate daily. You may have a breakthrough idea about work, health, productivity, or technology while simultaneously realizing your mind cannot keep functioning on constant stimulation and twenty competing priorities. Your challenge, should you choose to accept it, is to communicate more clearly about capacity, boundaries, and what’s realistically sustainable for you right now.

By the weekend, the energy deepens but becomes more empowering. Venus enters Leo on the 13th, softening your intimacy and shared resources sector, while the Gemini new moon on the 14th lands in your routines and wellness sector. This is excellent energy for setting intentions around health goals, work systems, emotional boundaries at work, financial organization, or creating a daily life that supports the future you’re building rather than quietly draining it.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

Aquarius, the week begins with the last quarter moon in Pisces moving through your money and self-worth sector, so your attention naturally turns toward value: what you’re earning, what you’re spending, and what you’re tolerating emotionally or professionally that may no longer match your standards. This is a strong week for reassessing budgets, pricing, spending habits, or the quieter emotional question underneath all of it: do your choices actually reflect how much you value yourself?

Then on the 12th, your ruler Uranus in fellow Air sign Gemini in your creativity, romance, and pleasure sector squares off with the North Node in Pisces in your money sector, and this can create tension between security and experimentation. You may want to take a creative risk, change your dating approach, invest in a passion project, or simply prioritize joy more openly, while another part of you worries about practicality, timing, or resources. The lesson here isn’t to suppress spontaneity, but rather learning how to let creativity and stability coexist instead of treating them like enemies.

By the weekend, the mood becomes warmer and more relational. Venus enters Leo on the 13th and lights up your partnership sector, bringing more sweetness, attraction, and generosity into one-on-one dynamics. Then the Gemini new moon on the 14th activates your creativity, romance, and self-expression sector, making this a beautiful time to set intentions around dating, artistic work, pleasure, confidence, children, or reconnecting with the version of yourself that creates and loves without needing excessive permission.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Pisces, the week begins with the last quarter moon in your sign, making this one of the more personally significant weeks of the month for you emotionally. Last quarter moons are about release, reassessment, and refinement, and in your sign, this can feel like noticing what version of yourself is ready to be retired. You may be more emotional, intuitive, tired, inspired, or simply more aware of where your energy’s been leaking. Give yourself room to adjust expectations, release unnecessary pressure, or let go of identities, habits, or emotional narratives that no longer fit who you’re becoming.

Then on the 12th, Uranus in Gemini in your home and roots sector squares the North Node in your sign, and this can feel like external change colliding with your personal growth process. Family dynamics, housing situations, emotional boundaries, or questions around belonging may suddenly require more flexibility than you planned for. You may be craving reinvention while simultaneously wanting emotional certainty. The way through this transit is allowing your definition of stability to evolve rather than forcing your life to look exactly like the version of security you imagined six months ago.

By the weekend, the atmosphere softens and brightens noticeably. Venus enters Leo on the 13th, bringing more harmony into your routines, work life, and relationship with your body, while the Gemini new moon on the 14th lands in your home and emotional foundation sector. This is powerful energy for setting intentions around living situations, family healing, emotional boundaries, decorating, moving, resting more intentionally, or creating a home environment that genuinely supports your creativity, peace, and next chapter.

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Screenshot Maybe it’s just my algorithm, but it feels like my timeline is full of women rejecting — or at least rethinking —...

Screenshot

Maybe it’s just my algorithm, but it feels like my timeline is full of women rejecting — or at least rethinking — ambition. Author (and fellow Canadian journalist) Amil Niazi wrote the book Life After Ambition: A Good Enough Memoir about her personal journey away from the pressure to lean in. “Ambition is still an important and necessary tool, but in capitalism, it’s also designed to work against you,” Niazi told Toronto Life earlier this year. Similarly, comedian Phoebe Robinson did a standup special last year called “I Don’t Wanna Work Anymore” all about dismantling  girl-boss culture. “Not being a girlboss has allowed me to have a fuller life, which I think is great, not only for my own personal happiness, but it [also] inform[s] my work and the way that I approach it,” Robinson told the LA Times. It feels like we’ve been in an anti-ambition moment for a few years now but I mention Niazi and Robinson specifically because they are both women of color. And for awhile, the girlboss craze and then its subsequent backlash all felt very white. As a workaholic who was raised by immigrant parents to work “twice as hard” as my peers to be successful, I didn’t think leaning out was an option for me, and neither was the c-suite. But, like many millennials, I am burnt out and frustrated with working myself to exhaustion for little reward, especially at this point in my career when I am in a senior position. 

I also know that, as irritating as it is, my ambition is an integral part of who I am. While I relate hard to Niazi and Robinson and understand the (much needed) shift away from hustle culture, I am still hustling. My job is still my life and a key part of my identity. And I’m OK with that — for now. I just hate the systems we’re forced to work under that create a lack of boundaries and a breeding ground for burnout (capitalism is so annoying). “When I hear about women losing ambition, I take it with a grain of salt,” The WIE Suite founder and CEO Dee Poku tells me over the phone days after she hosted a two-day summit for women entering the third act of their careers. “Women might be fed up with systems, but I don’t think we ever lose that drive. It just takes a different form. We’ve done the traditional sort of workplace ambition and this is a different ownership of our own destiny.”

That mindset was at the core of The New Guard Summit, a two-day event in The Berkshires curated by Poku and The WIE Suite, “for women leading the next era,” says the event’s press release. “The flagship in-person event, gathered for senior women leaders navigating the third act — the career and life phase defined by impact, legacy, and purposeful reinvention. Programming spanned keynotes, expert breakouts, fireside conversations, table braintrust exercises, and partner activations.” When Poku invited me to the event, I was hesitant considering the aforementioned burnout and overall networking fatigue. But the summit was so much more than just another conference designed to push you back into the workforce with increased productivity or a place to rattle off your resume. It was a reset and a challenge: what do you want the next phase of your career to look like, how will your goals affect the rest of your life — mind and body — and how will you make it all happen?

The Summit 101 — & A Reminder Your Third Act Isn’t About Age  

“Community is really important to me,” Poku says about why she wanted to create the New Guard Summit. “Curated community is really important to me. And the reason that it’s important is that we should have as many different types of people in our lives as possible because we are multidimensional people. There is something so valuable about curating women who have goals and aspirations in common, who are at a similar place in their lives and careers, and can be deeply useful to one another. It really helps us move forward in our careers and certainly in our ambitions if we have that peer support.”

That curated peer support was on full display throughout the summit. The theme was The Third Act and focused on three pillars: health, wealth and influence. Speakers included Victoria’s Secret CEO Hillary Super, Scale AI co-founder and world’s youngest self-made billionaire Lucy Guo, celebrity stylist Micaela Erlanger, DIOTIMA and Proenza Schouler Creative Director, Rachel Scott, and renowned women’s health expert Dr Sharon Malone.

When you think of a third act, you may think of being in your 60s, post-retirement, but Poku described it as a career stage of maximum choice and autonomy, where one leverages established expertise for personal impact, distinct from age or retirement. Act One, according to Poku, is the very early stages of a career when you are just entering the work force, finding mentors and yourself. Act Two is when you’ve found yourself and your stride, you have reached a leadership position and are in a position to shape the way decisions are made, but you are still beholden to a system, your bosses, or authority figures around you. And Act Three is all about freedom, baby. You are in control of who you work with and how you live. “It’s less about doing what’s expected or doing what you’re boxed into,” Poku says. “It’s saying, this is how I want to live and these are the people I want to work with and this is what I know and how I’m going to apply it to the rest.”

So, to speak in Beyoncé albums, I would consider myself in the Cowboy Carter era of my career; confident, creative, and been around long enough that I consistently deliver excellence. I’m a senior director. I love my job. But that freedom Poku speaks of is still out of reach. The media industry is shrinking so editorial directors are now also content creators, editors, video editors, writers, reporters, talent bookers and social media managers. I am not able to how and when I’m going to work — or with whom — yet, but it does feel like that Third Act is fast approaching. Could a trip to the Berkshires with a bunch of ambitious women get me there faster?

The Drive To The Berkshires That Felt Like Crossing Into A Different Chapter

I flew into Newark airport the morning of Day 1 of the summit and headed to WIE Suite member Stephanie Roberson’s house in New Jersey. She’s the Chief Merchandising Officer at Shopbop and graciously offered to drive us to the summit at the Miraval Berkshires Resort and Spa. Before I even got out of the car, I realized that Poku’s curation skills were already on display. Roberson is one of the most impressive and kind people I’ve ever met and learning about her work, her advocacy for mothers and maternal health, was so inspiring. 

By the time we wound our way through the rolling roads of the Berkshires, my out-of-office reply had been active for a few hours, and I was already resisting the urge to check Slack.

Old habits die hard. But chatting with Roberson brought me back to the purpose of the next 48 hours and the temptation to fall back into the grind subsided. 

If a Third Act is the phase of life and career that exists beyond the relentless climb, it was time to ease up on the incline. As we pulled up to one of the most bougie and beautiful resorts I had ever seen, it was exciting to know that I’d be surrounded by founders, executives, investors, board members, and creatives who had already accumulated the titles, the promotions, the exits, and the accolades that society tells women they can’t have.

The question hanging over the summit wasn’t how to get more. It was, “What happens when you’ve achieved what you once thought would define success?” For many women, especially those who have spent decades proving themselves in rooms not built for them, that’s a surprisingly complicated question. As I arrived, New Guard tote bag now in hand and networking instincts fully activated, I expected conversations about scaling businesses, maximizing influence, and staying competitive. Instead, what I found was a collective interrogation of ambition itself.

The Message Was About Purpose Instead Of Pressure

There’s a familiar script at leadership events. Someone asks what you do. You answer with your title. You discuss growth, opportunities, goals, and metrics. Everyone leaves inspired to work harder. There’s pressure to be productive. This felt different and that was intentional. Throughout the summit, women who had reached objectively impressive heights spoke candidly about exhaustion, reinvention, caregiving, grief, menopause, aging, and the quiet realization that achievement alone doesn’t provide meaning forever.

On day one, there were movement sessions in the morning, journaling time to set our intentions, a cocktail hour and dinner where Poku and others shared remarks. One of my favorite moments came from Toni Wallace, Partner and Head of Global Music Brand Strategy & Partnerships at UTA. During dinner, Wallace was one of the select  few women asked to speak on their third acts. “As far as what I would like my third act to look like? I would really love to do something with purpose and impact,” Wallace said. “I’m deeply concerned, as I know many of you are, about what’s happening in the world right now and I have a very difficult time sleeping. I just feel like we all need to be using the incredible gifts that we have to help make a difference.”

Wallace’s candor was so refreshing and I witnessed multiple women approach her afterwards to thank her for being so real. So many of us aren’t sleeping. And now is the time to step up and lean into purpose. The stakes are too high. In the U.S., women are losing rights as this administration is hell bent on dismantling any progress that was made in the Obama era. As Wallace said, in a room full of women with influence, thinking about using that power for good is necessary.

The Conversations Around Aging, Wealth & Influence Felt Radically Honest

“I hear some version of women figuring out their health, wealth, or influence every day,” Poku says. “Women are really thinking about their health in different ways. And it’s not just about like self-care, but it’s really like, how can I live better longer? The women’s health space has exploded and is very much driven by women.  We’re really finding innovative solutions to how we live our lives. But it also feels really overwhelming. I just wanted to hone in on that and bring some experts to the table to help us understand how we should be living our lives in our 30s, 40s, 50s, and onwards.”

In many professional environments, aging remains a topic people approach cautiously, especially women. At the summit, it was discussed openly. Women spoke about visibility, relevance, changing identities, health, and the realities of navigating workplaces that often celebrate youth while simultaneously benefiting from experience. Rather than framing aging as decline, attendees described it as a period of expanded perspective. There was a noticeable absence of apology. When it comes to wealth and money, Poku wanted the summit to focus on more than just “doing the basics” or “what our financial advisor tells us to do.”

“How can we be really clever about building, growing wealth over the long term?” Poku asks.“Let’s think about generational wealth, which I think about a lot in terms of Black women. I’m in rooms where this sort of wealth information is being passed down by wealthy people to the next generation. They’re getting access to information because they’ve had access to this wealth over longer periods. So, how do we get in those rooms and how do we get access to that wealth information if we haven’t had generational wealth in that same way?”

One of the speakers during the wealth sessions said something I’ll always remember: “The real wealth is going from ‘how much’ to ‘what for?’” That brings us back to purpose. 

For the panels on influence, Poku says she wanted them to be about how “the concept of influence has changed. And I would say executive women want to also have influence in a way that’s different to being an influencer.” Her hope was to equip executive women to build a direct audience via platforms like Substack and podcasts, enabling a different kind of impact that they used to have. 

“It used to be that you build this career, you build all this knowledge, you build all these relationships and you became a VP or an EVP or CEO or president, and your influence was filtered down through the company,” Poku says. “And now we’re really thinking about the way you build your influence beyond being confined to the workplace. Now, there is the ability to have a more direct line to your audience.”

In the afternoon influence session on day two, Jo Cronk from Whaler spoke about the difference between creators (“storytellers”) and influencers (“endorsers”). Cronk was honest and irreverent about the state of the business and how to bridge the gap between marketing, branding, and real, true influence. Many of the women in the room shared their frustrations with the expectations for everyone with a successful job or business to now become an influencer as she gave honest feedback and tips on where to start. Not only did the summit act as a beautiful reminder to own our worth and power, there was also tangible advice we could take with us. 

Women talked about setting stronger boundaries, caring less about external validation, and becoming more selective about where they invest their time and energy. The honesty felt radical precisely because it was so ordinary.

Community Is The Real Power Move

“I host a lot of gatherings and I remember a friend, one of our members, saying to me that the thing that she loved about walking into an event that I had hosted was that as a CEO and as a mother, she was always the one making sure everybody else was taken care of. And what she loved about walking into a WIE Suite event was that she felt that someone was taking care of her,” Poku says. 

For all the discussions about leadership, the strongest takeaway wasn’t about strategy, it was about community. Many attendees spoke about the isolation that can accompany senior leadership roles. The higher women rise, the fewer peers they often encounter who understand the unique pressures they face. The summit created space for something increasingly rare: candid conversation without performance. People shared uncertainties alongside accomplishments. They exchanged lessons instead of elevator pitches. They asked questions without pretending to already know the answers. In a culture obsessed with individual achievement, there was something powerful about witnessing women invest in collective wisdom.

A woman I met during the summit (I’ll keep her anonymous for her privacy) worked at Meta and was laid off the morning of day two. She wasn’t upset, she was excited. Because she was surrounded by women who told her she was exactly where she was supposed to be. And she new that with this newfound community, she’d be okay.

I Left Thinking About Ambition Differently

On the bus ride back from the Berkshires, I kept returning to a simple idea that surfaced repeatedly throughout the summit: ambition doesn’t disappear as we age, it evolves.

For some women, that evolution means launching another company. For others, it means mentoring future leaders, pursuing creativity, strengthening relationships, protecting their health, or reclaiming time that was once consumed by professional demands. None of those paths are inherently more valuable than the others.

What The WIE Suite’s The New Guard Summit offered wasn’t a blueprint for your next chapter but permission to imagine the rest of your whole proverbial book. In a world that constantly encourages women to keep striving, climbing, and accumulating, the most transformative message I heard all weekend was that ambition can be measured by more than capitalistic achievement. Sometimes ambition looks like expansion, relationships, redefinition or reinvention. And sometimes, after decades of proving yourself, ambition looks like finally asking what you want — and allowing the answer to be enough.

I’ll leave you with my favorite quote from an interview with Jill Scott (talking to Angie Martinez) about the stages of a career that, to me, encapsulates everything the summit taught me and what I’m striving for in the present and future.

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