OPENING UP
♥ How is everyone doing? I’m wishing you all well ♥
I’ve had some things on my mind and kind of wanted to do a more personal post about turning 30, being single in a time of chaos, adapting to quarantined life, what’s helping me get through it, things I’m thankful for, spiritual development, and what I’m looking forward to once this is over. This has definitely been a time of adjustment and I’m trying to go with the flow and make the best of things.
But, before diving into all of that…
I am very lucky that I don’t have to go into work and put my health at risk, and that my friends, family, and coworkers are safe. At the end of the day that’s all that matters. A lot of people are suffering and struggling, which is heartbreaking, and during times like this it’s important to uplift each other. I’ve made donations to PhilAbundance and Feeding America. I understand that money is a concern for most right now, but even $1 can help. Being quarantined has helped me see outside of myself and made me realize that I don’t “need” as much as I think I do, and I’d like to be more involved in volunteering opportunities to help both people and animals.
My heart goes out to all of the doctors, nurses, workers, helpers, healers, and everyone else who has been severely affected by this ♥
T H I R T Y
My birthday was on March 25th (#ARIESBABY) and I turned 30! I know it’s just a number, but it’s kind of a big deal to me. I was supposed to spend my birthday in Paris but unfortunately had to postpone the trip along with my other b.day activities. I’ve had a tumultuous 20s so I really wanted to start my next decade of life with a feeling of magic, wonder, and newness. I wanted it to be symbolic of letting go of old ways and cycles and introducing more positivity into my life. I’ll still be celebrating that magical moment, just… not right now.
A lot of my friends are married, have kids, or are in serious relationships and turning 30 definitely made me think about these things. To be perfectly honest I didn’t want to spend my 30th birthday alone, especially during a time of chaos and uncertainty. I’m kind of a lone wolf when it comes to this area of my life – mostly by choice, because I’m selective of who I allow to get close to me on a deeper level/share my energy with. I am an empath so protecting my energy is key (after all, you can’t pour from an empty cup). I don’t rush into relationships and I always take time to breath and reflect after each experience until I’m ready for the next one.
Around this time last year I was in a relationship, in love, and feeling valued and supported. There’s something to be said about having a shard experiences with someone, especially during a time like this. There is always comfort in having someone to lean on and receive reassurance from. I’d say that my “default mood” is quite bubbly and silly, however I’m still human and have “off” days. It’s important to acknowledge less-than-desirable feelings that come up and learn how to work through them without dwelling on them. One of the most important things I’ve learned about being single is this: spending time alone and feeling lonely are entirely different things. I’m never entirely alone and I’m fortunate enough to have really supportive and loving people in my life. So, instead of focusing on a lack of partnership at this time, I changed my mindset to account for all of the wonderful things I DO have.
I’ve really been taking the time to stay present, thankful, and grounded, and it’s made such a difference in my life. I can’t help but feel like the self-care I’m practicing will eventually draw in a new person (when the time is right) who is on the same wavelength ♥
“IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, THINK IN TERMS OF ENERGY, FREQUENCY AND VIBRATION.”
I’ M T H A N K F U L F O R…
satin sheets, fluffy pillows, sleeping in, rainbows in dreams, morning coffee, pretty flowers, twinkly lights, dreamy vibes, lightning, the sound of rain, vanilla candles, kisses from the sun, love, loved ones, laughing, lavender, late night texts, new recipes, the smell of brownies, fruit, vegetables, smoothies, soothing music, soul connections, good health, faraway friends, kind words, wine nights, feeling good, feeling whole, a new idea, a new show, books, warmth, fire, spirituality, gaia, crystals, meditation, healing, singing bowls, intuition, clarity, evolving, lessons learned, life…
T I M E
At the moment all I have is time. Time to think, learn, reflect, cook, create, try new things, and most importantly take care of myself. Initially when the Social Distancing went into effect my main concern was about feeling lonely, but what ended up happening was the complete opposite. The first week was challenging, but after getting used to the new “normal,” I was able to fill each day with a small but fulfilling task. These are some of the things I’ve been focusing on that bring me joy!
s p i r i t u a l i t y
I identify as spiritual and pull from a lot of different beliefs that resonate with me. I gravitate most toward Buddhism, and found a podcast which breaks everything down in an easy to understand and implement way. I did a 7 day chaka balancing yoga challenge by The Journey Junkie, which was kind of advanced for me but still very enjoyable. I’m a strong believer in energy, vibrations, and sound healing so I’ve been playing my singing bowl as needed. I have my eye on a larger quartz crystal bowl which will produce a much deeper sound and I can’t waiiiiiit to have it in my life. In other news I was also able to see my aura for the first time, which was really exciting! It’s turquoise, which I wasn’t expecting (I kind of thought it’d be pink or purple). I looked up the meaning of turquoise aura, though, and it’s 100% who I am as a person.
“A turquoise aura represents feeling, knowingness, unconscious, and intuition. It focuses on the feeling of empathy and sympathy. The turquoise aura radiates a state of calmness and tranquillity in life. It also concentrates on serenity and peacefulness. Turquoise aura personality is a natural leader and is always ready to share wisdom, vision, and knowledge with the world. They always learn from experience and processes. These auras learn the things that their partner loves. They are always encouraging and protective and always speak from their heart. ”
p h o t o g r a p h y
My dad was a photographer and one of my biggest regrets is not using him as a resource and learning from him while he was alive. He has quite the camera collection so I’m learning on one of his faves! It’s a Pentax from the 60s or 70s (I’m unsure of the exact year). I’m not planning to start a career as a professional photographer, haha, but it’s been a really great creative outlet for me. Some of it is a little confusing, but I’m learning along the way. I really enjoy shooting on film because it makes me slow down and really think about what I’m documenting. I also kind of like the surprise involved with not immediately knowing what the finished product is. I’m not well-versed in the world of photography so I don’t know many noteworthy people, however I recently discovered the words of Duane Michals and I’m IN LOVE. He uses a lot of cosmos, light, and angelic imagery, which really speaks to my soul.
d e c o r a t i n g
Slowly but surely my apartment is finally starting to feel like home! I’m going to do a separate post on my interior design style and how I decorated it once it’s finished, but that won’t be fore a while. I ordered lights and artificial vines and flowers from Amazon to create a dreamy flower wall behind my bed. I’m eventually going to swap out the flowers for a different kind, but I’m enjoying this so far. I also got a clothing rack to display some of my favorite pieces, just to add a little chicness and sparkle to my space.
