Life Updates March 2016

Life continues to march steadily onward.  It’s the end of March 2016 and I’m busy wondering how that even happened.

For anyone that hasn’t been following along, between January and now I quit my previous job, took a month off to recover, and started a brand new job at a non-profit psychiatric clinic for the under-served.

It’s been a big adjustment, but a highly welcomed change.  As an eternal optimist, my initial enthusiasm for any change in my life can sometimes be attributed to that glorious “honeymoon” phase where everything seems sensational and I willingly adapt to any new circumstance thrown my way.  However, now that I’ve settled in for a bit I can tell you that I am still very content and truly enjoying my new digs.

Balance.  It’s the advice I preach to all my patients, but up until now have really struggled to manage myself.  For the past two years I’ve been seriously stressed out.

So between jobs I took a month off.  And did what might, to some, look like nothing.  I didn’t travel, I sat at home a lot, I powered through a hefty number of escapist fantasy novels.  I did manage to get to the beach several times, as you can tell by the photo evidence.  But, most importantly, I learned a heck of a lot about myself by adjusting the pace of life down, like, 1000 notches.

And I’m going to share what I learned with you. Just in case anyone else can relate. And as fellow bloggers/ cooks I imagine a few of these at least will hit home.  

• Not everyone is creative, but I absolutely am.  If I can’t be creative I’m miserable.  End of story.  Blogging is just one of my outlets, but I also love to paint.  Photography is fast becoming a new medium of interest as you can probably tell by this blog 🙂
• To be creative I unequivocally need to foster a certain mind state that includes feeling happy, relaxed, and inspired.  I also need time. (Something spending 2 hours a day commuting on “the 5” quickly eats away).
• I realized that I really truly need time alone.  Particularly time alone when I’m outside, in nature, or taking walks by myself when I can just think and feel at peace.
• So that means sometimes (often) saying no to other obligations, social gatherings, work dinners, etc.
• But saying yes to the people that matter the most.
• Exercise, sleep, and eating well…. Also critical.
• And having a job that, while critical for financial stability, doesn’t leave me feeling drained, stressed, and unhappy week after week.

I feel a little silly posting about “updates” as there’s really been nothing dramatic or exciting to report in the last several months- no trips (although we are planning a big trip to Peru in May, so stay tuned!), no moves, no pregnancies (thank goodness because Zika… yikes!).  

(My parents did manage to sneak a trip in to visit us here in San Diego earlier this month, which was lovely!)

But, while there are really no superficially showy changes in my life to post on Instagram or Facebook, what has really what has changed the most for me has been a reset of the balance button in my life.  A new start to focus on managing day-to-day relationships, routines, activities, hobbies, and focusing on ample time for rest. And staying creative.  Always that.

(Photos in order of appearance: The Pacific Ocean at Point Loma, View from Devil’s Punchbowl, A Lifeguard Tower at Torrey Pines, An Original Oil Painting of Morro Bay by Your’s Truly, An Inspirational Quote from the Public Library in La Quinta, CA).