January has been a refresh. A reset. The beginning of my first full year of being an adult. Of doing this whole 8-5 thing 5 days a week. Of staying still. Of growing roots. Of adventuring the crap out a place I get to call home. And for the first time since moving my life across the country, I don’t feel unsettled by that. I let January be a time of intention setting, of really focusing on me and figuring out what I need to feel ok with the life I am building. Whether it’s been ceramics and getting to create with my hands again and learn a thing or two about patience and letting go of what you expect something to be, or sound journeys and chi gung and really centering my presence, or finally getting back into yoga and feeling the sense of peace that comes from being back on the mat. January was the peaceful start I needed to start refiguring out who I am in the new-found world of full time work. And if this month was telling for how the rest of the year is going to go, I am pretty darn excited in the direction I am headed.
The best part of this past month was my 3 best buds from college coming to stay for a weekend. These humans loved me at my awkwardest moments and convinced me that I was indeed confident in who I am. I have them to credit for my hidden six pack of abs from laughing so gosh darn much and for making me believe in myself and the potential of who I could be. Getting to share with them the magic that is Oakland and Northern California was a dream. My apartment felt full of laughter, love and light and the sun literally broke through the clouds for them. Having them here made me realize why people never move away, because when you find life long friends like this, why would you ever want to leave. But we all have dreams and aspirations and we all are gonna be by each other every step of the way cheering each other on. And then of course later in life we will be neighbors and our kids will be best friends and we will sip wine and talk about the misadventures of our youth. And gosh darn it, just knowing they have my back and I have theirs from wherever in the world we all are fills my heart and soul with so much purpose and joy.
Here are some of my favorite moments from a beautiful start to a new year (musings continued after):
5 banana slugs, 1 trip from the BEST gal pals, 1 month back at work, 3 hikes, 5 sunsets, 3 breweries, 4 ceramics classes, 1 attempted trip to San Diego, 2 sounds journeys, 1 antique fair, 2 beach days, 4 new plants, 1 major project milestone at work, 3 Chi Gung classes, 1 new jumpsuit and so many lovely moments later, this year is off to a bang and I can’t wait to take on whatever it brings!
Cheers - keleniak
#heckya