Simple Joys of the Week, November 8th Edition

I don't even know where to begin this week. Everything feels a bit surreal, and I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that this is my new life--my new permanent life. So much has changed since my last edition of SJOTW!!!

In the past 7 days, I have done the following: Taught my last class at Tranquil Space (waaahhhhh), said goodbye to life in DC/VA, drove 10 hours to Cape Cod, moved into a new house, unpacked *almost* everything, visited 4 different studios on the Cape, got my first teaching job on the Cape (more about that later!), set up my studio and started painting here, and today, I'll paint and post my 100th dress. Phew.

There has been so much new, that I'm finding myself a little overwhelmed and exhausted. Deep breathing, mindfulness, and tea by the fireplace have all been very important in helping me to keep my sanity. And although I totally love it here and think this was the right move for the long-term, I've definitely been feeling some sadness about leaving my old life this week.

I had a good cry last night--about missing Tranquil Space, my friends, and about how hard it is to start over in a new community--and Ben got all concerned. 

He said, "I'm so worried about you! I don't want you to get depressed here! I think about it all day long and just worry about you and how you're doing!" 

To which I replied, "Ben, we've just made a HUGE life change. I'm allowed to have emotions about it without that meaning that I'm depressed or that I wish we hadn't done it. Just let me have my sad moments, and I'll also have my excited moments, and it's okay. There is no need to worry." 

I think he understood what I was saying, and I hope you do, too. We should feel our emotions and be okay with them, whatever they are. If we're super excited one day, and kinda sad the next, that's okay. We're allowed to miss things, to be sad, to be excited, to be joyful, and no matter what we feel, we just need to be with that emotion and let it happen. That's how we stay emotionally healthy. 

Being sad is okay. It's a part of life.  [Am I right?]

So, with that said, lets get down to business. What brought you joy  this past week? A few of my simple, sensory pleasures are below...

HEAR: Music from my students
One of the fabulous perks of being a yoga teacher (and blogger) who truly cares about music is that it leads to my students (and readers) giving me CDs, sending me digital albums & music recommendations, and gifting me with iTunes gift cards. On our long drive up to the Cape, I was able to listen to a bunch of the music that was given to me by students before leaving, and it was wonderful. THANK YOU to all of you who pass along such fabulous music & recommendations (you know who you are)! 

SEE: Our new house {OBVS!}
As you already know, I'm OBSESSED with this house. I want to live here forever and am sad that we only have a 16-month lease, but am trying to just live in the present and appreciate our time here ;) Have I mentioned that I have an amazing studio space upstairs, too (I'm pretty sure I have...)? I feel super lucky every time I go up there to paint, and already feel like a much more productive, professional artist. Pics coming soon!

TASTE: Sunday's home cooked meal (+ wine!)
You know how moving is one of the most exhausting things ever? And how, often, when you're doing something as stressful/involved as moving, you forget to eat? That totally happened to Ben and I on Sunday, so being invited to a family friend's house for a wonderful, home cooked meal (with dessert and wine!) was a huge treat. We were starving, and it was just what we needed to feel welcomed and comfortable. Plus, we've been eating the leftovers all week (yum!), which has been really nice. 

SMELL: Clean, crisp air
The air is SO clean here! Now don't get me wrong, I loved living in the DC/VA area, but when I say that the air quality there was horrible, I'm not kidding. When we moved, all of our balcony furniture was covered in a film of black soot--from the AIR off of the main street we lived on. Therefore, I can honestly say that the clear air quality here is tangible. I can literally smell it and taste it. Big perk for a sensitive, allergy-ridden dork like myself ;)  

TOUCH: Heat from the fireplace
Okay, so I have to be honest here, our fireplace is gas [aka not real]. But hey, going from no fireplace to a gas fireplace is still a huge step up in my mind, and at least all I have to do to turn it on is push a button (pretty nice...). This week, I've sat by the fire every morning while blogging, and every evening after dinner, and it's been simply divine. Especially because it's freaking freezing here!

Although I've chosen to discuss the sensory experiences above, I want to be clear that the past 7 days have been crazy full of simple, sensory joys, and I could go on and on and on and on and on...#grateful. 

This weekend, Ben and I have plan to explore our little town a bit more, continue to unpack/get settled, and go on a long bike ride on the fabulous bike path right by our house. Yay! 

I hope your weekend is FULL of simple, sensory joys, too.