Magic and moving house
When life isn't overtly joyful, magic is in the mundane
Before we dive in, an announcement! I am taking on virtual nutrition counseling clients! If you or someone you know is struggling with their relationship with food, consider booking a free Discovery call to see what it is like working with an IFS-informed dietitian. I look foward to hearing from you :)
A few months ago I committed to looking around my life and finding the magic.
Then the most jostling two months of my life happened.
My full(ish)-time job ended. My husband finished his PhD and was applying for jobs that would definitely take us away from a town I had lived in for nearly ten years. One week I was thinking we might move to Durham, the next, Boston. We even toyed with moving to Florida to stay with family for a bit before finding our next spot. But the reality was: we truly had no clue what was coming next.
So, uh, it wasn’t a super serene time to be me?
Two months later, choices were made, we moved, our place is unpacked, and the only thing between me and true rest is a couch delivery. I am only sort of kidding, here; I do not recommend a dining table bench as the primary sitting spot in a home.
Now, as the August sun beats down on me, I struggle to remember the summer of goodbyes. My favorite season sort of got lost amongst the big life choices we were faced with and countless trips moving our stuff. I reference my Google calendar to remind me: “oh yes, we all [sisters + husbands] visited Mom and Dad” “oh yeah, we celebrated a big birthday” “of course, my lifelong best friend visited me in Athens”. It’s hard for my mind to remember these things because my body is remembering the grief of leaving the home I loved, fear of the unknown, and the general sensory spike of anticipation and newness.
This feeling of my mind not gripping tightly onto my memories has been around at least since December of last year. I’ve written about burnout before and I wonder if it is related. Regardless, I continue on aiming to take the best care of myself that I can. For now, that looks like: swimming in the pool, evening walks, nutritious foods, hot baths, reading books, dancing, and sleeping.
August has brought me time to settle into my job, my private practice, Nutrition Made Well, and enjoying the feeling of doing the work I love all day! (Looking for nutrition counseling? Book a free intro call!). I wake up and cannot believe my day is dedicated to work that I am so, so excited about. And that I can do it in a 77 degree room--more on that below.
On to what captured my attention! These are just normal things I am feeling my body and mind craving.
Found me: Wow, probably about 7 years ago?
All month I have been craving smoothies. I’ve made this green smoothie for years (sans spices this time) and store extra in the fridge for a few days. In the morning, I’ve been adding tart cherry juice, unflavored protein powder, ice, super seeds, and frozen avocado to the base and delighting in drinking a summer garden! (A nutrition note: this smoothie is a lower-energy food and is not enough for a full meal! I pair with Trader Joe’s hash browns, oatmeal with fruit, or toast to have a fully balanced meal).
A new-to-me bookshelf
Found me: FB Marketplace
Our previous apartment had the most gorgeous built-in bookshelves. I was un-enthused at the bookshelf prospects I was finding online. They were too big, too ugly, too dark, too modern. This gem found me and I could not be more delighted! The color! The curved edges! We even used books as bookends! I’m charmed.
Keeping my house 77 degrees
Found me: Ah, because my skin gets goosebumps when a fan is on in a warm room and ~I hate noise~.
I lived in an apartment in graduate school with the loudest AC imaginable. We named it because of the ferocity of it’s presence. I am extremely sound-sensitive, especially to background noise -- and this new place has a very loud AC. Lucky for me, I am freezing by nature and I am stubbornly keeping the house a warm 77 degrees while I am working from home. Quiet and warm - a dream.
An actual home office space
Found me: Well, the apartment was found by driving around our new city!
My clients may have never known that for the past 2.5 years, I took our sessions in the 2.5 feet between the end of my bed and the doors to my closet (see the glamor shot below). Every Tuesday and Thursday, I would top a storage basket with a box and my laptop stand for our sessions. Now, I have an office space! I could (and have) squealed with excitement.
Season 4 of the British version of Ghosts
Found me: When I was willing to fork over the $15 to Amazon
I delight in this funny, cute, little show. I prefer the charm of the British version and highly recommend you check it out if you haven’t seen it! Season 4 and 5 are behind a paywall that I finally succumbed to and I am glad it is back in my life.
Hot baths and other people’s magazines
Found me: the mailbox; bless USPS & Kathleen
Kathleen, someone who used to live here, never forwarded her mail and I have about 20 of her magazines that were waiting for me in the mailbox. A couple nights a week I take a bath and read her magazines. Thanks, Kathleen!!
Google Tasks app
Found me: My sister told me about it! I prefer the interface compared to how the “to-do’s” show up in Google Calendar.
I am loving the Google Tasks app (not thru the Calendar App!). There are a few health-related habits I am working on re-integrating into my routine. I have timed daily reminders for myself when I anticipate being able to do the habit. So far so good!
What has been finding you lately? Have you had to exert effort to find the magic in life?
