Transitioning

In the span of just a few days I went from gorgeous Lake Chelan with its relaxed pace of life and endless fun to Oakland. During the summer I felt thoroughly cleansed every time I slipped into the cool waters of Lake Chelan. It was refreshing, renewing. A sort of baptism every day that helped me shed all the stresses and anxieties of life and enjoy the beauty of nature. The small town was fun, and helped me integrate into a social circle in just a matter of months. It was a community. And to top it off I was living with my best friend.

Now don't be fooled, I chose to go to school in Oakland. I could have tried to stay in Tacoma or apply to a school in Oregon. But I wanted a different experience and believed the diversity of the bay area would give me that different experience.

However, the transition from small resort town to Oakland was rough. I was moving into homelessness, crashing with gracious cousins who offered me their home. And the humanity seemed to press in on me from all sides. I couldn't feel the spaces between me and the surrounding landscape, just bodies moving and pulsing all around. To finish it off it was oppressively hot, with no lake to cool my sticky skin. The first few days I heavily questioned my decision.

Then Saturday arrived. The sky was filled with sweet clouds that finally gave relief from the heat. And I visited two houses I instantly felt comfortable and excited about it. With my housing positively in motion the weather cooling and increased conversations and planned visits with friends in the area I gained a little space to breathe, comfort. And that space has increased every day creating room. In this transition I am learning patience and that sometimes time is necessary to smooth out the wrinkles in life. I know I am pushing myself into new and sometimes difficult situations that in the end will only contribute to my development as a complete person. And that's a great feeling.

*A big thank you to the family for prayers and thoughts. They always come at the perfect moment.