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Sense of Place

There's something about being home this time ... this time ... that has me grounded.  Not grounded as in "not flying" - although flying is something I have no desire to do for a while {exceptions being planned trips to Napa & the Caribbean over the next 5 months}.  But grounded in a way that is allowing me to finally start filling in those places of my life that I've glossed over the last several years. 

Knowing you are only going to be "home" for 89 days, 94 days, 60 days after being away from "home" for 3 years and 54 days is like hanging a picture in your living room just to hide a hole in the wall temporarily.  You still have a beautiful place to call home.  With time you forget there's an empty space there, waiting to be patched.  Maybe next year.  Next time.

Don't get me wrong, there's no "hole" in my life - nothing's missing.  But what I've noticed is, in a life that seemed so jet-set and on-the-go and full, there is always room.  Room for change and room for more.  Room for stability and room for less. 

In a conscious decision to focus more attention on life here, and not treat it as a resting place between bounces around rest of the world, I've found my breath deepening, skin clearing, body stabilizing (as much as hormones will allow, anyway).  I've noticed that new things have started to file into my life that I wouldn't have invited before ... because I was always leaving in a few weeks.

As new friends, opportunities, thoughts, perspectives fill spaces that were ignored, or maybe I didn't realize were there, it seems as the energies have changed in my living room ... a little life Feng Shui, if you will.

Only because I can't get these adorable fellas over here ...


to give the actual living room a real makeover ... talk about the cherry on the cake of my summer ...
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Comments

  1. DesireeJune 17, 2011 at 11:34 AM

    You have shared some wise insights, here. Glad to hear you're feeling more at peace and more comfortable with your circumstances.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kalei's Best FriendJune 17, 2011 at 12:44 PM

    My goodness, Val... u have been reassessing huh? You are right tho, I have to agree. There is always room for improvement, learning, and daring to do things... Yep, wouldn't it be a hoot to not only get a house redone by these guys but as well as clothing, hair, etc????

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bish Bosh BashJune 17, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    "Hi Valerie, meet my oldest bestest nicest friend Valerie here." "Hiya back Valerie! nice to meet you too after all this time together" "Yeah thanks...you seem like a really cool girl Valerie" "Aah gee thanks Valerie, cos I was thinking exactly the same about you too" "How about we both share this old rocking chair together out on the back porch here...kick back and enjoy a few glasses of wine, cos you know what Valerie?" "What Valerie what?" "Cos we're both worth it Valerie...that's what" "Yeah, you know Valerie...I entirely agree" "Cheers Valerie!" "Yeah...Cheers to you too Valerie!!"

    And for once I'm actually being perfectly serious when I add...Excellent news Valerie. Excellent news. Have a great weekend together. You deserve it!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AlessandraJune 17, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Good post. It's always the right time to reflect on your own place in life. Changing is not always easy, but necessary.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michele | Cooking At HomeJune 18, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    It's funny how our place in our own life changes as we move through it. You have always been in the right place at the right time for you. Enjoy this one.

    ReplyDelete
  6. UnknownJune 18, 2011 at 7:32 AM

    I haven't had much time yet to understand how I feel about "home". This August will be my first trip back to Alaska since moving to Italy, and I'm unsure what it will be like to see it and my family again... I'm glad you're finding your center though. After years of travel it's probably wonderful to enjoy a sense of balance.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Val June 18, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Morning all - thank you for your lovely comments. I hope you ALL have a lovely weekend! Weather's too gorgeous here - too gorgeous - and gotta bust a move. Much love to all of you! xoxo ~v

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sara LouiseJune 20, 2011 at 9:22 AM

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE Queer Eye! When I loved in Dublin they were on at like 7am on a Saturday morning, and no matter how tired I was I'd always get up to watch them :-)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Val June 20, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    I love me some Queer Eye too - now if more straight dudes would pay attention to hot gay guys the world would be a much more beautiful place. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousJune 20, 2011 at 4:38 PM

    Thought of this post when I was sitting out in the middle of nowhere Utah this weekend, bottom of a canyon, dangling my feet in the river and watching the stars above my head...

    a sense of place, a sense of being... serenity.

    Thanks always for sharing your thoughts, hope you had a fantastic weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Val June 21, 2011 at 10:13 AM

    Good morning, hot stuff. Nothing like seeing your bootay stuck to the side of a cliff whilst sipping my morning cuppa, by the way! Glad you got out there! Have to say, every weekend is fantastic these days because I don't have that knot in my stomach on Sunday evenings anymore knowing the next 5 days of my life will (suck) be exactly the same, too damned long, and chained to a desk working someone else's careerist agenda...Nature IS addicting, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete

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All entries are strictly observations from my point of view. This blog is not intended as professional commentary on travel, wine, food, or any other subjects I discuss - it is for entertainment, an online journal, for my friends, family, and anyone interested in my stories or journey in general.

Therefore, I reserve the right to delete comments for any reason, including those that are malevolent or inflammatory toward myself or other commenters.

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