Strawberries over Sections

Moving to a new city means building your own community from scratch. You no longer just move along with whatever’s around you. If the crowd doesn’t fit, you have to check in with yourself and figure out what you really want.

When you were back home, it was easy to be shaped by your surroundings. As a transplant, you have the power to pick who’s in your circle. This can be empowering, yet a  little scary. All in all it definitely showed you that there are endless ways to build the life you want, and everything is really just a choice. 

For me, back home I used to say I wasn’t into parties. I didn’t vibe with the loud nights, the gossip, or the crowd. Now, in a city packed with events every weekend, I’ve had to reconsider that identity. Turns out, I confirmed that I still don’t want to be out every Friday and Saturday. This realization matters

Now, I do enjoy a good night out with friends, I also love a nice dinner here and there. But, honestly, parties every weekend wear me out. I appreciate  variety in activities, and sometimes no activity at all. Maybe this week it’s a party, next week I’ll try milking cows, and the week after I’ll pick roses or learn to make perfume. Is my Aquarius showing? 🤭

Coming to this realization, officially, has made me intentional about the invitations I honor and the events that I go to. Luckily at each new space I always meet new people (duh the girls a vibe). But I quickly found myself in a quicksand of events because if I only meet folks at parties, then they will invite me to more parties, because that’s where they met me and oftentimes think that I am always down for another. I found myself overwhelmed with endless invites to events (because DC does not rest) and though this is a good problem. I get overwhelmed and need to retreat! I’ve also found that then I don’t meet the people who enjoy a calm night out and I love those people as well! 

I’m the friend who can have fun anywhere, but I’ve noticed not everyone’s like that. Some people will put on their best for a party, but skip out on a spa day. That’s fine. But for me I love both and look forward to enjoying both scenes with friends. 

So, now I’m learning to say yes to strawberry picking, and stepping away from sections. Which means I will be intentional with my schedule, including things that enrich the different parts of me and not just tagging along or honoring every invitation that does not align. There are different sides of me, and I want to make space for all of them. Each new spot brings out a different me. I look forward to who I may meet while honoring the random adventures and ideas in my head. Ideally I’ll meet another crazy random group too! 

Starting off I went to Butlers Orchard to go strawberry picking. It was a beautiful sunny day. And I got strawberries for myself and my neighbors the entry was $5 bucks and one container of strawberries was around $6. I was able to pick as many strawberries that could fit into the container . This is a cute friend activity or date day. Butlers Orchard has an amazing farm with goats that you can feed so if you have children I think it is a budget friendly way to tire the kids out. They can play, pick strawberries and spend quality time together. 

I enjoyed the serene environment. And realized that when you stop waiting for a crowd, and start honoring yourself, you experience true freedom. 

Anyways… with that the summer adventure continues. I hope you make time this summer to say yes to yourself in whatever capacity that you need yourself! xoxo