I remember being a young girl. My mom was paid every week, and each Saturday we’d head to a mall to shop. The day always started with me recognizing the trees and streets that led to my favorite place. As we pulled into the parking lot, I’d get excited because I just knew it was going to be a good day. Since then, I’ve always loved to shop. Finding a new outfit or the perfect pair of shoes, then wearing them to school, work, or an event, gave me a boost. That feeling of knowing I looked as good as I felt is something I believe every girl and woman deserves, without guilt or shame. But now, as a young middle-aged woman who has lived through a lot, and in a world filled with taxes, inflation, and economic shifts, things feel different. Honestly, they haven’t felt the same in years. Early in adulthood, something changed in me. Depression and self-doubt crept in and lingered for more than 15 years. The things I once cared about no longer mattered. I stopped caring for myself—physically, em...