It seems almost fitting that as the seasons are changing I am leaving. As the weather cools, the apples ripen and the leaves turn, I am preparing to embark. There are glimmers here and there that summer is still hanging on and but on a recent walk around my old neighborhood, I saw an apple tree with apples scattered about, a sure sign that fall is fast approaching.
I have spent a large portion of my time at the beach, or hiking outside. There is something so intrinsically comforting and grounding about spending time outside exploring nature. I find it deeply meditative to wander through the woods, or bury my feet deep in the sand. There is a joy with rushing into the freezing ocean and frolicking through the waves, embracing my inner water spirit. So much joy bubbling through me and filling my heart, ready to embrace everything coming my way.
It seems fitting that being near water brings me such joy, because at times I can feel the emotion crashing like a wave over me, or a waterfall splashing down across the rocks. Constant, yet in motion and changing. Sometimes I feel like water, here I am, always me, but also changing. I am moving and bubbling forward day by day. Visiting friends, spending time with family and preparing for this adventure. What I thought would be a quiet month with lots of down time, has (to no one’s surprise but my own) become filled with plans to practice yoga, run a 5k, and spend time couch surfing my way through the city of Boston.
As I look out my bedroom window at the changing leaves, it strikes me that the strangest part of moving back into my childhood home, is walking into my old bedroom. While some things have changed it looks and feels very much the same. In this moment, where I feel like everything is changing, it is a nice reminder that no matter how much we change, or where life goes, home is always a constant.