season of abundance

To follow up on last month’s post by Britt, I’ve been thinking a lot about being present.

In today’s day and age, it is not easy to find yourself present in moments with consumption being all around us - consumerism, social media, podcasts, playlists, books - the list goes on. I was sitting on the roof of my building trying to catch some of summer’s first rays with my phone and computer in hand. To be fair, I had a last minute email to write and wanted to use my phone to play music on my speaker for some background noise. Then all of a sudden, I found my phone dead which meant no more personal hot-spot, and especially, no more music.

I did not want to leave the sun and wanted to keep soaking in its last remnants before going down, so I decided I would stay with no music and a computer without internet service (cue world’s smallest violin). My initial thought was, I wish I brought a book up with me, or maybe my sketch pad and some markers, but then I thought… “but why can’t I just be here?”

And so that’s exactly what I did. I sat and listened to the train go by, really focused and thought about how the sun felt on my skin. How the breeze was not intrusive and warm, and that I was lucky enough to be sitting in a comfortable chair on the rooftop of the building I am able to pay rent for in New York City.

In these moments, I feel so grateful for the life I’ve created, the jobs I’ve grown in, the connections and absolute best friends I’ve made, my family back at home who keeps me strong and has supported me from the very first day I took my breath back in 1996 (vintage).

And with that appreciation, I feel even more inspired for when the moments of productivity are necessary and at the forefront, wanting to build an even more beautiful life every step of the way because, well, I can’t say it’s been all too bad.

To be with myself, in this place where I feel security + peace (majority of the time - don’t get me wrong, life do be life-ing), I can’t help but want to focus on these moments of here and now. Where I can just sit and be. Filling up on all of the beautiful things I’m able to have and create in my life, and the gorgeous rays of sun on my rooftop in the middle of May.