I write when I feel like I need to process or understand something that may be going on in my life (could be good or bad). There is a picture that is hung in my room that says, “the homebody club”. I would say that I have always been a homebody. The contentment I have just being at home is something I love & value. Anyone that knows me knows as much I love to be social and spend time with friends, I can be one of the biggest homebodies when time allows. I truly need it to re-charge during crazy times of my life to be my best self.
One word I would describe how I feel right now is overwhelmed. That word can have either a negative or positive connotation to it. The start of 2024 has been great. I have been doing many great things and seeing my favorite people. However, with having multiple social events during a week/weekend there is less time for me to re-charge. I have loved visiting and having my friends visit me. Many who I have not seen for a while which was so good for the soul. A few weeks ago, I was in Houston for work and when I got home late that Wednesday night everything hit me. It hit me that I had been going 100 miles a minute and had not slowed down in a very long time. After that I went into the weekend with all plans canceled. My phone was on DND, and I did all my favorite things: visiting a coffee shop, cooking, a good workout, journaling, and best of all visiting my grandparents. With more self-awareness I have tried to make my schedule to factor in a few free weekends for myself here and there, but it can be difficult. As I continue to progress in my career I have recognized when I have busy work weeks then busy weekends, I have to be diligent on when I take time for myself too.
No matter where I go in life and how successful I may be, there is truly nothing I love more than taking time for myself. It gives me time to reflect and process the crazy. It also reminds me who I am. There is still small-town Jules that loves Sundays on her grandparents’ farm. Thinking about growing up in a small town and how much I wanted to get out but recognizing now I am not the person I am today without growing up in a small lake town. The nearest Target being 30 minutes away. Amazing parents that are home for every meal. They all made me who I am today, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I used to not appreciate how I grew up as much but as I grow older, I realize how peaceful it is to go back to your childhood home. Play basketball with your little sister and brother on the backyard basketball court. It gives you a sense of innocence in the chaos of life. You realize that as much as you love the energy the city gives and all the people you encounter on any given day that there is still a part of you that is down-home and loves the simplicity of life. (Disclaimer: I have no plans on moving back to my hometown). I just want to be more intentional to remind myself that no matter where I go in life, I am not the person I am without all experiences that I had previously. I have always loved Morgan Wallen’s song More than my Hometown for that reason. I love evolving into the person I am today and all the opportunities that have been presented but you cannot appreciate who I am today without understanding the place I spent the first 18 years of my life.
Each season of life continues to teach me something different about myself and as I have started into 2024, I recognize all the great things that have happened and all the good things to come, but also making sure I take care of myself and well-being. I love to give and spend time with people that mean so much to me but at times I am constantly onto the next thing and forget that I need time for myself too. I wanted to write this because I probably do fall victim to the social media trap of sharing all the good parts of my life (of which there are many), however there are hard parts too. To recognize those and own them can be so beautiful.
As busy as my life can be at times I do believe when given the opportunity I would be the President of the Homebody Club, there truly is nothing better in my opinion. A warm shower, skincare routine, candles, a good movie, all nice and comfy with a good night’s rest on the horizon. My favorite type of Saturday night.
Songs that have been on repeat for me recently:
- Home by Good Neighbors
- Beige by Yoke Lore
- Forever by Noah Kahan
- Skin and Bones by David Kushner
- Spin you around (1/24) and more than my Hometown by Morgan Wallen
- Young And Beautiful by Lana Del Rey
With so much love always ~Jules
Julia's Juice on Life 