A Moment to Reflect

October 21, 2016 - 

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to visit home for the first time since I left for school.  It was really nice to return to a place that felt so familliar to me, and I was beyond happy to see my friends and family.  Along with catching up with everyone that I hadn’t seen in so long, I was also able to take a few minutes to myself, and reflect on the past few months that I have been gone.

I’ve been away for roughly a month and a half now, and while the time seems to have flown, it also feels like ages ago that I was living in my own home, and going about my daily routine.  I feel that already, I have changed so much, and am on the path towards becoming a stronger, more independent person.  Going away has taught me a lot, and I have realized that there are so many things that I took for granted when I was living at home.  Having the luxury of being able to come home after a long day, to your own space is still something that I miss.  I miss being able to sit in my room undisturbed, light candles at night, and listen to my own music out loud.  Furthermore, I miss the cool mornings, and rainy days.  The bright red and orange leaves that are so vibrant and beautiful right now.  Fall is always such a nostalgic time for me, and I always find myself reflecting quite a bit at this time of year.  I tend to think back to the times in which I was my best self; to when I felt the happiest and healthiest.  While it felt really good to be home, it also made me realize how much has changed since I left.  Home will always feel like home to me, however, I also realize now that I am starting to grow away from it.  I feel that I need more than what my small town has to offer, and while this change is just part of a larger coming of age journey, it also feels somewhat scary and daunting to me.  Part of me just wants things to remain the same, because that is what feels safe in this moment.  But while sometimes I long for the past, I also have to remind myself how exciting life is right now, and of all the things that are in store in the next few years.  This is just the beginning.

Change can be hard, and sometimes, all you want is to relive the past.  But here’s the thing: the past is in past.  Rather than trying to make things how they used to be, try your very best to embrace a new chapter.  It is so important to remember that change is necessary.  It is precisely what we need to keep on growing and to become better people.  Although we may not always see it in the moment, when we look back in the years to come, we will realize just how important it is to go through major changes in our lives.  With changes, come new experiences, and even more wonderful memories, so as time goes on, all we really can do is embrace the present, look forward to the future, and cherish the people we meet, places we go, and memories we make along the way.

-sb