sharing

5 things one should do when moving solo to a new city

1. Be somewhere that has a view

Our eyes and souls crave beauty, they need it to survive. So when you’re suddenly stripped of all your usual coping tactics and comforting friends, your insides will crave this beauty more than ever. When you have such a craving, drop everything and listen.

2. If it’s possible, find old friends who will take you in for a month or two while you sort things out.

(Warning: for this independent types, it can be challenging to receive such generous help like this. But if it’s offered, say yes, it’ll be beautiful.) Its best if these friends are cute and into questionable activities.

3. Buy the book.

So when you move to this new place, you must have come with some visions for what your life would look like once you arrived. You know, the things you wanted to conquer, take on, how you’d spend your time. The interwebs are good and helpful, but when in doubt, go to the used bookstore and purchase yourself the book that will accompany you as you live out your new reality. This book will become your friend.

4. Listen to yourself.

When people heard I was moving to a new place, many wanted to offer the best advice they had. And so I was repeatedly offered this: “just say yes to every opportunity that comes your way—even if you’re tired.” Being just a few months in now, I can now offer back a hesitant: “yes, I agree—mostly.”

When in a new place and context, it’s  good to push yourself into new experiences and situations. Because most of the time, I’m sure you’ll smile and say, “yes, I’m so thankful those moments happened.” But whether you are in a new city or the city of your birth, saying “yes” out of fear is no good reason to say yes at all. Saying “yes” when you can, I’m coming to believe, is a much better life skill to cultivate.

5. Drink alone and don’t be afraid to talk to strangers.

the words find us

“i shall make all things well,

and i will make all things well;

and you will see yourself that every

kind of thing will be well.”

 

she asked the sun.

“My path, ever golden, follows the sun.”

Tags | poems, sun

enjoying the impractical.

cheers to summer.

did you feel it today?
were you in it?
were you all about it?
were you absorbed?

on days like these my
{sometimes too serious}
soul
needs to be reminded
to do things.
just to do them.

somedays my
{often too serious}
soul
needs to be reminded
to be a bit less practical
and just
enjoy.

lucky for me.
i have friends who help
my soul
remember
to
play.

and enjoy
the impractical.

so instead of going out
to get some practical
food item like breakfast,
lunch or dinner.
she & i went to get
(of all impractical things)
a sweet.

at this place…

 

oh and
dear summer…
cheers to you.

– n.

tips from a friend.

i got the chance
to spend the afternoon
with an young friend
today.
a special treat.

i learned a few things by just

being
with him.
perhaps i thought you might like to
hear.

ready?

number one:
read-a-louds really do
make car trips
go by faster.

number two: 
when excited, jump up and down because
actions really do speak
louder than words.

number three:
hold hands.
it’s more fun.

number four:
if the opportunity presents itself
paint your face to match your
shirt.

number five:
your never too old
{or too young}
to throw your head back
and enjoy a good
knock-knock joke.

necessary mornings.

some mornings there
is only one thing
that can
possibly be done.

so when the
weather gauge
is lamenting the tale
of negative numbers.

when that long lost
white substance
is making it’s
fall to join us on earth.

one must take
the necessary steps
this sort of morning presents.

put on the kettle.
snuggle into your best scarf.
tuck the laptop under your arm.
and start the day

and don’t forget
your cuppa
tea.

little bit of everything

just a moment with my radio.

It doesn’t happen that often. Just sometimes. But when it does, there is something profound and sacred which makes me want to stop everything and just listen. Every other task becomes menial and the final destination seems to matter very little, if at all. A spell. Yes, that’s what happens, a spell comes over me, just like in the fairytales. This of course, only confirms those great works of literature are obviously nonfiction.


You know this feeling? I’m sure you must, it’s when a song. A song, not known to you makes its maden voyage into your hungry eardrums. The first encounter. When the musician and instruments and you are the only things in existence.


Yes, that moment.
Common on. We both know.
It’s magic.

sparklers

one should always celebrate

a donut discovery

 the whole place was