By Shannon Susi

I worked with Cece on this design and asked her to create this gift for my best friend, Allie, because Edna Mode is an icon. More importantly, her famous quote, “I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now,” is something Allie has taught me to live by every day. It’s so easy to look back on certain times or events in your life and think of your favorite moments or moments when you made a mistake or a bad decision. This leads to a lot of “what ifs?” and spending so much time thinking and stressing over things that have already happened and can’t be changed. While looking back on the past is normal and healthy, it can easily become unhealthy and distract from what is going on around you at this very moment. This quote always reminds me to stop and look around me. It reminds me to be present every day and enjoy all the small things going on right now. If you look back, you could miss the amazing moments right in front of you. Be like Edna Mode. Be present, be grateful, be iconic.