I’ve reached the point in my trip where the excitement and newness is wearing off and I’m settling into mundane rhythms. This is life now; it’s tea in the mornings, long bus rides, Harry Potter reruns and homemade dinners. It’s slow and sweet, and I’m learning to be patient with it. The last two weeks in both my work and my personal life have been rather slow, but there are still things to look back on and be grateful for.

This week was half-term (or fall break), and last week’s workshop got canceled, so I’ve spent the remaining time devising a songwriting workshop and an adult writing group. Last week my boss and I met with the leader of a local charity that works with families to discuss a full-family workshop, one where kids and parents break off and each attend a unique writing session. If we go through with this, I would lead the adult session! To prepare, I combed through old writing prompts from my English classes and Porch workshops to gather some ideas. As much as I’ve enjoyed working with kids, I’m very excited about the prospect of an adult group. I think there’s a lack of spaces in Bournemouth for adults, specifically in their twenties and thirties, to share their art and writing, so I want to help foster a space like that. 

My biggest challenge in devising these classes and in setting up our regular workshops has been what you’d think would be the easiest part: emails. It is so hard to get a prompt reply especially from teachers, so it’s been a little discouraging to feel like I’m not making any progress. In the meantime, I’ll keep chasing people up and work to strengthen the class plans. 

A sweet comment from a recent workshop. Someone found a new friend!

My mental health and personal life has also seen a bit of a slump. A combination of conflict back home, dreary weather, and a nasty cold resulted in more screen time and me feeling overall less present. Despite that, I’m still trying to get out and maintain my rituals. My weekly fiddle lessons, youth group, and football practice have been helpful in establishing a rhythm and helping me regularly see people. I have at least one good friend outside of work who I frequently hang out with, and we’ve been making our way through the Harry Potter films together. 

When I’m feeling down, I find it helpful to compile a list of the things that made me happy in a day or over the course of a week. Here are a few things that have brightened my mood recently and reminded me that there is always beauty around:

1. On a particularly sad day, a rainbow appeared on my run. It’s the only rainbow I’ve seen here thus far, and it only lasted for a few minutes, but I think I was meant to see it.
2. My friend Alex and I made a really delicious dinner, combining my favorite salad recipe and his favorite pasta recipe. 
3. Even though I wasn’t there to see it, my band (The Scarecrows) played a Halloween show in my hometown and stayed with my parents. It made my heart explode to witness that crossover.
4. I got to see the New Forest with my boss Dee and his wife Mel. The New Forest used to be King Henry VIII’s private hunting grounds, and today wild horses and ponies roam it.
5. I made a new friend from America!

Rainbow!

Horses in the New Forest

As of writing this, I have a few exciting adventures ahead of me: I’m flying to Belfast this upcoming weekend to see my friend and fellow LUMOS recipient Eleri, I’m visiting my friend Lydia in mid November, and my family is coming to visit me in December! There’s lots to be grateful for, and I’m excited for what’s ahead. 

Elisabeth