Summer, Adaptation & A New Season

This summer stretched me in ways I didn’t expect: emotionally, mentally, and logistically. I’ve been a little MIA since moving at the end of May. Those first three months were packed with paperwork, appointments, and constant adjustments, so I decided to take a little break to get settled, take care of myself, and enjoy the summer.

And now, somehow, it’s already fall.

A Summer of Adaptation

If I were to describe my summer in one word, it would be adaptation.

Moving countries is difficult, even when you’ve lived in that country before. A lot can change while you’re away, and when you come back, you suddenly have to play catch-up in a very short amount of time.

I didn’t fully realize this before because the previous times I moved countries, I was younger, and adapting felt easier. This time, though, it was definitely harder.

Immigration laws are becoming stricter all over the world, and that often means extra requirements and paperwork for immigrants when they first arrive. That alone can take a lot of energy, especially when you’re navigating everything in a language that isn’t your own.

Taking care of myself and my energy quickly became a top priority. Even with that, I was at my wits’ end by the end of August.

So, I took September to rest, recharge, and work on updating my website.

It wasn’t always easy, but now I feel much more energized and ready to finish this year strong.

I haven’t decided whether I’ll talk more about this topic later on, so if you’re interested in hearing more about how moving affected my mental health, let me know in the comments.

Making Memories Along the Way

Even with all the mental strain of adapting to life where I’m currently living, I still managed to enjoy summer.

I met new people and became friends with a few of them. I saw old friends and caught up with them. My husband and I visited some of our favorite restaurants, cafés, parks, and malls around the city and explored new places that weren’t here before.

We also spent a couple of weekends at his family’s country house which was quiet, peaceful, and away from the distractions of technology. It was exactly the kind of reset I needed.

Despite it being a very rainy summer, I still made some pretty great memories that I’ll carry with me.

A Lesson About Money

I also learned a few important lessons during the summer, with the biggest one being how to have a healthier relationship with money.

It’s something I’m working on every day now, and I’m already noticing how things shift as that relationship improves.

I plan to write more about this before the year is over, so stay tuned.

Hello, Fall 🍂

Now, it’s fall, my favorite season.

And with fall comes all the cozy things: sweaters, fuzzy socks, blankets, coffee, hot chocolate, apple cider, and so much more.

But while fall can be comforting, it can also be a difficult time of year. Seasonal changes affect our mood, and for some people, this season brings symptoms of depression or seasonal affective disorder.

October is Depression Awareness Month in the US, and over the next four weeks, I’ll be writing about topics related to depression.

To be honest, I’ve never experienced clinical depression myself, but I have experienced depressed moods, and I think most of us have at some point.

Next week, I’ll be releasing a blog post about the differences between clinical depression and depressed mood. If this is a topic that resonates with you, you won’t want to miss it.

That’s All for Today

Well, that’s it for today.

I just wanted to give you a little update, catch you up on what I’ve been doing these past few months, and introduce the topic we’ll be focusing on this month.

As you wait for next week’s blog, feel free to explore my new website and share it with your family, friends, and acquaintances if you think it’s something they’d benefit from.

And of course, feel free to share how your summer went in the comments below. I’d love to hear from you.

Here’s to a new season, a fresh start, and finishing the year strong. 🍂