Wednesday 25 May 2011

One year ago I was...



♥ Finishing up six glorious months of summer in New Zealand. Hooray for the Southern Hemisphere, free time, coast line to run along, sea to swim in and bare feet to walk back home in. New Zealand is vitamin D therapy for a drizzly Seattleite who'd been holed up in England for four years.

♥ Exploring Auckland's best coffee shops (and there are many!) with Mel and Rachael, sipping flat whites and writing about my finds in the design*sponge city guide.

♥ Finishing up the first draft of my manuscript and realizing I still had a long way to go.

♥ Still in my twenties (!) and totally uncertain about what my next decade would look like, other than the fact that it would start in Seattle alongside one certain, nomadic Englishman I'd had the great fortune of marrying and circumnavigating the globe with.

♥ Filled with nervous excitement and bracing for change. I do love a good move across the world, but I also know how much work is involved and was psyching myself up.




 Today, I am...

♥ Grateful. Writing full-time in Auckland, ten minutes from the beach, was a difficult act to follow, but Seattle has been doing just fine. I'm thankful for the way life has pieced together, for family and friends nearby and for that long-forgotten feeling of being home. Ahh...

♥ Balancing in the constant tension between contentment with ambition. It's much easier to look ahead at what's next than to appreciate what I have now, which was what I once craved.

♥ Still reading, writing and drinking excellent coffee.





What were you doing one year ago?



{Images from traveltrailersnz, MR38 and Maptote}

7 comments:

Rachel said...

I was about to write, "One year ago I was on my honeymoon in Maui," but that was two years ago. ONE year ago, we had just celebrated our one-year anniversary; I was still getting used to being a mama to our then two-month-old daughter and being a family; Bryan finished up his first year of grad school; we were about to take our first airplane trip with a baby--life was a little crazy but also really beautiful.

alisha said...

And I love that just one HOUR ago I saw you and Amelia at the Green Bean. :)

sinead said...

One year ago I was getting accepted at Uni to do my MA! That was exciting....now I am doing the dreaded dissertation : ) Gorgeous photos!!

Claire Carey said...

This is a great post, Alisha. One year ago I was sitting on the beach in the Caribbean, hoping to write a manuscript. Now, I've finished the first draft AND and I get to go back to that beach in July. ;) It is good to pause and be thankful. You're right--it is so tempting to just want the next thing...thank you for making me pause. xxox

Rachael Randal said...

One year ago we were saying goodbye at Kahve in St Heliers to some awesome friends that we'd had the pleasure of spending our first few months in New Zealand with. Sad but so excited for them and their next adventure, and very much appreciating their delicious home-baked cookies :-)

One year ago we enjoyed our first sweet wedding anniversary exploring our new home...

This year, we're that little bit further ahead with out goals for the future. But also totally appreciating the bliss of where we're at right now...

Call me A.S for AkiraSabine said...

One year ago in May was my first month in Seattle. I just arrived as an Au Pair at Sheridan Heights. I was all excited with my new home, new neighbourhood, new unpredictable weather, new food, new friends and during my weekends, I took a Metro to check out downtown Seattle.

Even that I'm home right now, I still do reminisce my time in Seattle. I like the greens, the lakes and the healthy lifestyle of Seattleittes. Seattle still remains number one in my heart although LA sees more sunshine. Just love the many lakes with seagulls, kayaks and the Boeing test fly every now and then.

alisha said...

What a year. :) It's great hearing what you guys were up to.

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