I think Fall is my New Year. January just doesn't seem like a new season to me. Just more of the same crappy weather, without an end in (near) sight. October/November, though- that always seems like a fresh start. The weather starts to get colder, the leaves turn amazing colors, my sweaters and boots come out of their suitcase under the bed, and I start to feel really content. I don't think I'm ever happier than I am in the Fall. Even back in the day, Fall was always the time to get a new backpack, new notebooks, and head back to school. It's always a time to refresh and start anew, and I love that.
Because it's "my new year" I've been thinking about what's important to me lately. It's been a weird year, and sometimes I feel so wrapped up in pointless stress that I'm not letting myself be as happy as I should be. A year ago now, J and I made the decision that it was time for long distance to be over, and I was going to move to Atlanta so we could be together. I thought I had a long time to search, prepare myself, and say goodbye to friends in Chicago- like, when my lease was up in May I'd move. So when that didn't happen- I literally got a phone call that I needed to start my new job in a week at the end of January-everything went into hyperspeed. I packed, I drove down, bought a car, started work, and got thrown into my new life. Exactly nine months ago today, I moved to Atlanta. Until recently, though, I haven't felt like it was my home. J has been amazingly patient and wonderful, and has been great at reminding me why I'm here in the first place- us. I have always found the whole "Count Your Blessings/Thankfulness November" thing to be a bit cheesy, but I'm trying harder to take note. Because after all, I have really nothing negative to be stressed/worried about. Just a whole bunch of fantastic things to be excited about.
Now that it's a "new year", and I finally have my bearings, I've been trying to focus on the things that make me happy. I realized that music has kind of been on the back burner for me for awhile now. Anyone who knows me, knows that music is incredibly important to me. I've always had a really strong emotional connection to the songs I'm hearing. Some people associate memories with smell, touch, visuals- but I've always associated memories with music. While all of my friends are planning their dream weddings on Pinterest, looking at flowers and dresses, all I can think about is what our first dance is going to be, what's going to play as I walk down the aisle. I can tell you the song that was playing when I first met J (Of Montreal- Gronlandic Exit), the moment we became official (New Year's 2011: Katy Perry-Firework), the song I listened to when he moved away (Camera Obscura- Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken) the song I played while saying goodbye to my home of eight years (Sufjan Stevens-Chicago OBVIOUSLY)
Another thing that makes me happy that I haven't done in FOREVER (like, not once since I moved) is yoga. Finding a yoga instructor is like finding a therapist- they have to be just right, and it can take awhile. But I've decided it's time jump in, feet first, and find one. So this "year" is going to be dedicated to reading more, discovering new music while rediscovering the old, and doing more yoga in an attempt to be at peace with myself and my surroundings.
And in that vein- here's a song I recently rediscovered via an old episode of Gossip Girl:
Daniel Rossen- you are the man. Also, JoJo.
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