Process > Perfection

We’re all going to die. 

You know it. I know it. It’s an inevitability and the only real guarantee we’re given in life. Yes, it can be sad, but it’s not a question of whether; it’s when. The end result is entirely fixed, so why dwell on it? Why not, instead, focus on what gets done along the way to life’s finish line? Pondering this notion, the obvious and beloved-by-moms-everywhere cliché comes to mind: “IT’s nOt ThE dEstInAtiOn, iT’s tHe JoUrNeY”.

But, as TJ Maxxed as it sounds, it’s true. Life is defined by the ‘how’ of how you get to the destination – the ‘journey’ part – not the destination itself. Otherwise, just like the movie that passes while you wait to find out what happens, or the scenic drive gone by as you count down the minutes until arrival, if you’re focused solely on the ending, everything leading up to it, I would argue, is wasted. 

With this in mind, I find it reassuring to know that there are a few exceptional folks out there who seem to hold a keen awareness of this foreboding reality and skirt its ability to cause a sense of perpetual doom. Of course they know we’ll all die (I hope) but they also know that it’s truly okay (I mean, it’s not like we have a choice), and that each ephemeral moment should be held more dearly because of this. Their energy is inspiring and uplifting, even if it’s only a momentary influence of their presence. 

One such person who’s ambience has always struck me in this way is one Sage Erickson. If you’ve ever met the California-Hawaii double-transplant (that means she moved twice) – or even if you’ve only been Instagrammatically acquainted – you’ve likely noticed one of her many truly awesome (in the classical sense) traits: Her kind affability; Her optimistic aura; Or her apparent aptitude for anything she tries her hand at. Artistic endeavors? Sure! Gardening? Easy. Winning world-class surf events? Done (and done).

Of course, despite her unmistakable joie de vivre and her commanding abilities both on terra firma as well as within the ocean’s depths, the natural-footer has been dealt her own share of fate-twists just like us Debbie Downers. From losing loved ones to contracting the COVID mid-2021 CT season (on the eve of some of her winningest events, no less), Sage has experienced the roadrash of life’s highway as much as you or I. But with each bump and bruise, the Central Coast native has found ways to buoy herself through life’s turbulent tides and find her way back to the shimmering surface, living, laughing and, of course, loving through it all. 

Whether she’s working in watercolors that find their way onto pro-model watch bands or rendering larger applications across her high-performance CI quiver, Sage has developed a consistent practice of personal expression through multiple media with as much ease and grace as she does on a wave’s face. It’s clear, then, why Scandinavian travel gear brand Db recently tapped into her creative quiver to develop a new custom colorway for their best-selling Æra Tote. 

Masterfully designed, this elegant yet durable day/night/weekend/anytime bag is expertly equipped with everything needed to go from pilates to professional luncheon (lol wut is that) and way beyond. Previously available in an austere range of colors like blackout and ice blue, the new collaborative hue imbues Ms. Erickson’s own outlook on artistic articulation as a metaphor for living – focused not on perfection, but on pure enjoyment. 

Conceptualized, tested, and executed at her verdant Central Coast home, Sage added her own unique twist to the classic method of tie-dye and brought bleach to the party. Each bold iteration applied to Db’s durable, water resistant fabric features one-of-a-kind details, making no two totes alike. With each splash, spray and sprinkle, every distinct iteration looks and feels as if Sage made it specially for you with her own two hands (I told you – she’s the nicest). 

Beautiful in their individuality, each and every Sage Erickson x Db Æra bag serves as a manifest metaphor, reminding us to revel in life’s liminality; that there’s room for experimentation; that nothing is perfect but also that we can use the tools at hand to navigate the hills, valleys, curves, and forks in the road. Sure, this collaborative carryall facilitates arriving at one’s destination in style but, beyond that, this so-much-more-than-a bag encourages living in the how – in the now. And by doing so, once we do get to the end of our own road, we’ll know that the journey was one well taken. After all, life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans, amiright?!