Ever since I was younger, I wanted to travel. To see. To experience. To meet. To laugh. And to be in nature. I wanted to do all of these things not to draw the attention of others via social media or friends. But, to live a life that I was truly proud to live.
I remember being young, and my parents asked me, “what do you want to be when you grow up?”
That’s when I quickly answered, “homeless.”
Now knowing that wasn’t the correct term to use, I still know what I meant by this statement. I wanted to be surrounded by nature and the beauty of the world because this was me. I wanted to live outside and be around newness. (Not making light of homelessness because being homeless is a sad truth of the world we live in. But, it does make me giggle to think of the terminology my younger self used because I didn’t know terms like “nomad” or “dirtbagger” back then.)
Discovering Happiness in the “Bleh”
So, after spending a season on the West Coast in Bend, OR, I am now officially back in my hometown in Tennessee for the summer. With being back home, there are days where I could easily fall into thinking only of only the negatives of my situation. “Wow. There is nothing to do here.” “Dang. I can’t believe I am back in my hometown.” “What’s next? I am ready to get out of here.”
Even though the “me” a few years ago would have fallen into these thought processes, I feel as though I’ve grown to be able to thrive in the “bleh” of the everyday. Because I truly believe that you can embrace newness and culture and all things beautiful, even in your hometown.
The Secret Sauce to Reclaiming Your Happiness Where You Are Right Now
Finding contentment where you are in life right now shouldn’t be difficult to do — especially if you have a roof over your head and food on the table. But, life is about more than the basic necessities. It’s about finding belonging, purpose, and ritual too. So, if you are in a bit of a funk about where you are in life as a wild soul, this section is for you specifically. Here is the secret sauce to reclaiming your happiness no matter your geographic location.
- Get Outside
Whenever I am down or experiencing the infamous brain fog, I run out the door — quite literally. There are studies that have shown the positive effects of getting outside in relation to mental health. In fact, doctors in 35 states will prescribe “outside time” to patients with high blood pressure, anxiety, and depression before prescribing medication. 🌳
- Move Yo’ Body
Movement is key to living a joyful life. Because when you move, your body and mind are happy too. Right now, I am really digging Yoga with Adrienne videos and the elliptical at my local gym. But, there are tons of ways to incorporate movement into your day. Try biking, walking, running, swimming, hiking, or whatever piques your interest. 🚲🧘🥏 - Forget Materialism
One of my friends once told me, “anxious people buy more things.” That hit deep. As someone who is trying to overcome my shopping tendencies (and anxiousness), I tend to hit the stores the most when I am stressed out and worried.
If this resonates with you, try taking a get a breath of fresh air first before going shopping. See if you still “need” whatever you were wanting to buy. You may be surprised what a quick walk will do.
- Be Around People
It’s easy to shut yourself in your room and get lost in the world of TikTok, YouTube, or Netflix. But, do these things add value to your life in the long run? Before you know it, a whole season of life may have gone by in a blink without you seeing a single soul. Yikes.
If you have an at-home job, it can be even more so difficult to see other humans besides those you see virtually on Zoom.
Make it a point to plan something where you will be around others. Whether it be a Saturday brunch at your house, a potluck, a workout sesh, or hiking on a popular trail near you, try to place yourself around other people. Your serotonin levels may or may not just go up. 😉 - Make Your Space YOUR Space
I used to get home and clean clutter, but that’s it. As long as my laundry wasn’t laying all over the floor, that’s all I needed to worry about…. right?
Not even lying to you, there would be months when I didn’t even remember the last time I deep cleaned my bathroom or bedroom. Oof. In this season, I am working on making my space feel more like home through DEEP cleaning and donating things that no longer serve the phase of life I’m in.
Let’s just say I’ve grown to love spraying all-purpose cleaner and throwing out facial creams that I’ve kept around since middle school for one of those “just in case” moments.
Living in a space you’re proud to call home can really get you cheesin’. (And, if that’s not the “most adult” thing I’ve ever said, I don’t know what would be.) So, pick up the Lysol and bring out the organization containers. Your room needs a “pick me up” too. 🧹 - Consume Goodness
Who doesn’t love taco bell, beer, and going out to eat in general? I do. 🙋♀️
It’s all a balance though.
There was a point in my life where I’d start drinking Rolling Rocks beer at 1PM and go out to eat 5x a week. Living in the city of Charlotte at the time, I was always a big foodie (and “drinkie” if that’s a word. Haha.) With all of those binges come drawbacks: fatigue, withdrawals, weight gain, and lethargy. I wasn’t feeling my best during that time, and you don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to find out why.
Today, I enjoy cooking at home, taking my multi-vitamins, and saving those nights out for when I am genuinely craving something — not just because it’s convenient.
For you, if you catch yourself going out to grab a bite “just cause”, try seeing if you can mindfully make some of your favorite dishes at home. Instead of opting into eating out robotically, ask yourself if you genuinely do want to eat out, or if you’re living life just on autopilot.
If you are craving something, by all means, go out if that’s what you want! Just don’t get caught in the wheel of mindless habits. - Set Rituals
I am currently reading “The Power of Ritual” by Casper ter Kuile. This book delves deep into how you can turn your everyday life activities into soulful practices. This book, at its core, is about embracing mindfulness through routine. (Highly recommend.)
But, this book brings up some good points. Whenever you create a routine, let you do it with full awareness of the moment and bring a sense of gratitude no matter what you are doing. So whether you are eating an apple, sipping a cup of tea, or going out for an evening jog, be mindful in the rituals you already have in your life. This will enable you to see beauty through it all — even if you are just brushing your teeth!
Life is the Here and Now
Life, in essence, is a bunch of days that compile together that make up your life. Your life isn’t a title, position, status, etc. It’s how you feel about the life you live in the day-to-day. Moment by moment. Because if you aren’t happy about how you live your days, how do you expect to be happy about your life? (Deep stuff. I know.)
My hope is that you find all the peace, happiness, and contentment this life has to offer you. So, if you are gridlocked to a small town or in a place you wish you could move from, what are the small, mindful changes you can make today to lead you toward a life lived out happily?
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