it's finally real

I wrote a story
...my story

A Journal of 7 Dresses is my deeply personal story of transformation and healing from the weight of perfectionism and shame. Through the process of painting seven dress portraits, I opened my heart and journaled my steady progression toward personal freedom—freedom from the need to measure up, fit in, or meet the unspoken expectations of others.

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Each dress became a revelation, a different facet of the diamond I call freedom. Painted entirely from my imagination, these portraits are not about the person wearing the dress but about seven specific invitations to step into God's love and acceptance.

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There are no faces because I’d love for any girl viewing the painting to be able to picture herself in the dress and wear it in her heart like a hug of acceptance and freedom—to embrace the divinely designed beauty she already is but is still in the process of discovering.

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Printed in a magazine-style format, A Journal of 7 Dresses reflects my complex relationship with magazines—once a source of unrealistic standards, now a platform for redemption and inspiration. As a former editor-in-chief of a women’s magazine, I understand the power of images and words to shape perception and self-worth. With this book, I seek to reclaim that power, offering encouragement rather than comparison.

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Wide margins throughout the book invite readers to reflect and respond. I encourage women to make my story their own—personalizing the experience with their thoughts, sketches, and revelations. This isn’t just a journal—it’s a conversation between the reader and her own unfolding story.

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Step into the dress. Embrace your worth. Begin the journey to freedom.

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love,

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Lydia