Finding the Spaces that Center Us
Until this past year, space was never something I spent much time contemplating. Over the course of the pandemic, it became imperative to find spaces where I felt safe, nurtured and supported by my surroundings. There are a few key spaces that ended up saving me and continue to allow me to keep anxious thoughts from becoming overwhelming.
My home
I’ve lived in the same apartment for ten years now. That is the longest I have lived anywhere, with the exception of my childhood home. For most of my twenties and thirties, I moved at least once a year. Moving is the absolute worst, yet I somehow always ran into scenarios that required me to uproot my life over and over again. So, when I moved into this place, I didn’t really know how long I would stay. I definitely did not anticipate staying put for a decade. Fortunately, I love my home. I have created a space that looks and feels authentic and specific to me. I feel comforted simply walking in the door. I always thought that I would have moved in with a significant other or at least have bought a house by now, but that isn’t the direction my life has taken so far. I thought that I would really want to leave this place after being stuck here during an interminably long pandemic. I did even consider a huge move to another state, but quickly realized that was simply a reaction to the trauma of living through a pandemic. Once I gave it serious thought and listened to my intuition, I realized that I am happy where I am and exactly where I need to be at this moment. Until I feel compelled to move, there is nothing wrong with living in a space that is perfectly suited to me in this phase of my life. A space that is cozy, clean, bright and in a beautiful beach town that has brought me so much joy.
My yoga community
I have been practicing yoga for many years, but mostly on my own at home with online classes. About three years ago, I was going through an unexpected upheaval in my life and decided that I needed to branch out and try something new with my practice. The yoga community I found holds outdoor yoga classes at a nearby park. This community of beautiful teachers and students was my saving grace during the pandemic. Thankfully, we were still able to practice outside the majority of the time once lockdowns eased up a bit, and I started going to classes almost every day. The space that was held for me to strengthen my practice, be in the presence of other like-minded people, grow as a person and get out of my head for at least an hour each day made all of the difference in the world to my mental health and to the way that I got through the past year. I also made some incredible friends in a year where we had so few social connections. It’s a space that continues to inspire me every day and has truly changed my life in countless ways.
My park spot
There is a gorgeous park in my town that overlooks the ocean and most of the city. I have a spot under a willowy tree with the best view of the water where I spend time reading, drinking coffee, meditating, thinking and just enjoying nature. It was somewhere I could go and feel like things were semi-normal in the world, even when things were truly frightening and uncertain. I’ve tried to go to other parks in order to broaden my horizons and not get stuck in a rut, but I always end up back at my same park spot. I can’t help myself. It brings me so much comfort and sheer joy that it always pulls me back. I’ve made some big life decisions under that tree, read more books than I can count and found a sense of grounding and calm that centers me.
Every aspect of our lives is defined by space in one form or another. I’m grateful to have found numerous spaces that feel nurturing and grounding for me, especially in times of turmoil and uncertainty. When my mind is swirling with worry or overthinking, these places provide a sense of calm and ease to steady me when I need it most.
