Seasons

The weather has definitely shifted here in Germany. The mornings are cold and crisp and the leaves are changing and falling more and more each day. It’s kind of the best part of fall, where you still have the sun shining, but the cooler weather starts to prepare you for the upcoming winter.

Weekly walk through Volkspark

I’m finding I’m experiencing a shift internally now as well. I’ve been working on furnishing my apartment as almost everything I owned I either left or sold before moving. I arrived with a small amount of kitchenware, camping gear, a desk, bed-frame, bicycle, and a box of yarn (my fellow crafters get it).

I tend to move slower in my action when decorating; taking time to research top this or that; staying up late scouring Pinterest images. I set up several “carts” at different retailers waiting for possible sales or comparing items. I drive my sister nuts talking out ideas over and over till a plan is put in place. Well, with this apartment not much was different until this week. I’m trying some new behaviors, coming into a new season as it were. Action! I finally let myself off the hook, that this apartment doesn’t have to be perfect. Every nook and cranny doesn’t have to be picture perfect. I’ve just moved halfway around the world to live my dream, for crying out loud. This is the season for me to experience life! This is definitely not going to be my forever home, and who knows, I may not stay here even for another year (especially if my upstairs neighbors are going to continue to herd elephants in their apartment). I can keep things simple, focus on the things that I need for comfort now, and wait for the rest to unfold, as it were.

Perfectionism is a sneaky little thing. I usually don’t see it until it’s already been plaguing me for a while. Then I remember, it's progress, not perfection. So, this week, I finally hit the “purchase” button with my full carts! And for me, it’s not so much that I ordered the couch and dining table, but that I let it be simple. Everything will be arriving this week, and my apartment will become my home. I’ll have a safe, comfortable place of my own and my mind can be freed up to pursue all the other things I want to do.

Everything, everywhere, all at once

Pictures of the completed rooms are coming soon, so stay tuned!

As you find this post I hope you are able to remind yourself that whatever is holding you, that you can change focus and try something new. Find a way to make it easy and above all, be gentle with yourself. 🍁