I’m sitting here at a cafe just finished my cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast of corn fritters.

I decided to go for a long walk in Highett. It’s a suburb near us but never took the time to walk along the strip shops.

Some years back, strip shops were closing down having their customers attracted to the large shopping mall centres. However post covid, I’ve noticed a bit of a revival of quaint cafes and artisanal shops selling hand made, vintage or retro goods. There’s more smaller restaurants specialising in types of foods so there’s always something great to discover. I’ve also noticed an increase in shops that sell “experiences” of sorts. For example art classes, sewing, pottery and more.

I’m not going to lie. I like this. I think the move where people are enjoying local shops and meeting friends and neighbors in their own area is what is needed for us to reconnect in our own local areas.

I’m going to enjoy more of this free time exploration in coming days and months. I feel like a weight on my shoulders has lifted and it’s time to look forward.

I’m getting my headspace back a bit. I can breathe a sigh of relief.

These discovery walks do wonders for my morale. It also helps having the sun shine today.