Happy August!
I’m honestly shocked that it’s already August – seriously, how did we get here already! I feel like I’m still processing the first half of the year and we’re basically 4 months away from 2023…
Currently back in the US after more or less two months of traveling in Europe. It came and went so fast. I feel like it was just yesterday that we were packing for the trip. To be honest I’ve been having a harder homecoming that I have trips past. I’ve been feeling all over the place. If someone were to ask me how I feel being home, I would tell them it feels foreign, like I just woke up from a dream.
That’s the best way I can describe it – foreign, unfamiliar. I didn’t realize how used to traveling and being in France that I had gotten. I love being out in the world, seeing and experiencing life outside of the PNW. When we were flying back I didn’t have an overwhelming excitement to get back to Portland. Of course I was excited to get back to my friends and family as well as the comfort of being in my own home with all of my creature comforts, but the whole time we were traveling back I felt this heaviness, perhaps a bit of sadness, maybe even a bit uprooted which is ironic given that I was on my way home.
I stumbled across one of Sophia Amoruso’s reel the other day and she was talking about sabbaticals and how taking time off gives perspective that really stuck with me. At one point she says,
“…going going going and working hard feels like progress and it makes money, there’s real value, but it’s worth asking yourself, what value means…just because you’re moving doesn’t mean you’re moving in the right direction and understanding the difference is pretty challenging when you’re working constantly.”
It made me realize how, prior to traveling, I had more or less been “going, going, going” and “moving in a direction” – I had a direction, a plan, for what the next few months would look like and what I would focus on when we got back. However once we started traveling, that direction was given a change of scenery that put things in perspective.
I’ve always loved traveling, especially within France and Italy. I’m endlessly inspired by the lifestyle and its European charms. Whenever I’m there I find myself experiencing life in different ways – I’m more outgoing, interested in new experiences and find myself thinking more outside the box. I realized that what my life looks like when I feel most inspired and like myself is a bit different than what it looks like the majority of the time.
I’m not saying that I want to spend endless hours on the beach (even I would get tired of that after a week…maybe two) or even move to France or Italy (although I’m not opposed to it). Rather, I’m paying attention to the places and environments that really jazz me up and reverse engineering how I can create more of that in my daily life. I will always be inspired by travel, but I also want to be able to experience the feelings that I experience when I travel when I’m at home. I want to create a life and live in a place that I don’t necessarily need to leave to get inspired or feel fulfilled.
I’ve had a few other reflections that I’ve been unpacking and will share in another post in the coming weeks. For the time being though I’m just soaking it all in, trying to enjoy the last few weeks of summer and reminding myself that it’s all a journey. I think sometimes we as humans naturally prefer “the known” – a plan, consistency, maybe even a routine. It’s pretty safe when you think about it. We don’t have to think too hard about what’s next or check-in with how we are feeling along the way. In a way we can just coast. However at the same time, it breeds the perfect condition for getting stuck or too attached to “a plan” such that we resist when something is off or when we desire something different. Sometimes I think we need a little reminder that we always have the opportunity to recalibrate and adjust the path that we are on.
Hope you all are having a wonderful Summer!
xx
-S
Intention
Infusing my daily life with the things I love the most while traveling. About a month ago I had a conversation with my intuitive and we talked a lot about how travel can be a form of escapism and, for me specifically, a huge source of inspiration. Travel almost has a healing component for me – I always ended up with some ahah moment or deeper understanding of an issue or myself. That being said, I also want to be able to heal and be inspired without traveling so I want to start focusing on how bring the elements I love the most about travel into my home. For example, I love the moments on trips when Chris and I have a drink outside (usually among some beautiful scenery or in a cute cafe) before dinner. I haven’t spend much time decorating our patio, but I think it’s time to spruce it up so that we can recreate those moments at home.
Inspired By
There is nothing like the Mediterranean. Even though I’ve been there a few times, I’m equally mesmerized and inspired by its colors and textures as the first time I laid eyes on it. I love the terracotta, the deep blues and greens of the ocean, linens, stone and raffia decor and endless olive and fig trees. I’m thinking of picking up a few books to have around the house so that I can always revisit it when I need a little pick me up.
Things of Note
Slowly entertaining the thought of fall fashion, but still very much enjoying the end of summer. Then again, Staud has me swooning over these suede knee high boots.
As mentioned above, I’m tackling our patio and trying to create a more comfortable space to lounge in. I’m thinking of these chairs with this bistro table for a little dining area. All I’ll need are some low maintenance plants and it will be a nice little spot to enjoy a cocktail or read a book!
