Today was a great day. Each day a privilege, of course. But today was one of those days that just stood out.
When I opened the studio in August, the transition from a quiet home working schedule to a full on anyone at anytime kind of schedule was definitely a shock to the system. Over time I have come to enjoy the unpredictabilities a public space brings.
I’ve made some big changes over the past four years and change, once it knows it’s welcome at times comes uninvited. My eating habits changed, a lot of my negative patterns were uncovered and replaced with better ones ie. therapy every single week for the past two years, saying no to confusing, wafty and non-committal friendships, relationships and situationships. One of the biggest changes currently underway is letting go, no longer holding on so tightly to people I want in my life but the feeling isn’t mutual. Half-measures and half-hearted excuses are no longer good enough. Time really is precious so why not spend it with yourself in good company or a handful of people that have no reserves of making it known to the world that you matter to them. Life is too short to be on the receiving end of someone else’s inability to be an adult.
Today was an incredible reminder of how simple life is and how joy lives in those simple things. From the unplanned visits from friends passing through, the morning banter with the usual suspects, people I don’t see often but utterly love seeing and great conversations with customers. At some point it felt like half of Scarborough was in my shop but for once it didn’t overwhelm me, it made me feel all warm and fuzzy. My shop has become a meeting place, a holding space, a somewhat bringing together of beautiful people. And when I say beautiful I don’t mean the surface level kind, I mean the make the world go round kind. The be there for you at 3am if you need them kind; the will drive to come fetch you if you get stranded somewhere kind and the I really want to know how you are doing kind. I think I’ve been searching for them for a while now.
The day ended with a bodysurf out at the local with a dear friend. Someone who has been through so much and still finds joy in the smallest of things, my heart expands every time I get to be in her presence. Hand planes and fins, wetsuits and hoods, off we went to go catch some waves. We bobbed around the ocean, sharing waves, laughs and the joy that simple things bring. For an hour and a half we glided and played. The ocean has this way of making you feel small and held at the same time. That’s healing to my inner child on any given day but especially today as it’s finally landing that I don’t have to work so hard to be loved.
What a privilege to be able to have time to find joy in the simplest of things. Deeply grateful for this life and where I find myself. In good company may it be solo or in the backline with a friend. Life is beautiful right now.
Thanks community.
x