Adventure is out there! proclaims my newly beaded bracelet. The handle for my Instagram is “Kaylie Adventures”. Life lately.
It truly has been an adventurous few months. Moving in with my partner, exploring CA and WI in new ways, test-driving an EV for the first time and buying it the same day, and becoming a full-time librarian after graduating with my master’s… all new.
And those are just the big life things.
Now that most of our shared library has found a home across one wall of the new space, it’s time to settle in, right? No. Those very books demand to be read! There is life to lead!
Finding the intersection between novelty and routine takes diligence, recognizing attention while respecting the rewards.
Further, as I live with my loved one, such a balancing act between what’s new and what’s known takes self-love. This is the first time I’ve lived with a partner. I am still learning to embrace I need space for routines, even in the newness of sharing schedules, updates, and goals with someone. I enjoy planning out the month ahead, while C looks to the week.
Living in the moment sometimes means planning the moments. And sometimes it means embracing adventure and spontaneity.
Some of my favorite things are, in fact, routines and look the same: Long, lingering mornings, connecting over coffee and carbs, are staples. Regular meditation and movement still take practice. Having a consistent reading and writing schedule creates a boundary, a protected time. The rewards are very much in the doing of them.
Much of this is new for my partner, too. A shared space encourages me to be here now, typing away, all while C reads. Instead of hyper-fixating on the next month (oops) or talking, I type, while he cools down from his book’s climax. Falling action is not unlike the last few months.
I am not people-pleasing here. If I focus too much on how I am, I lose sight of who I am.
For me, today’s intersection isn’t as simple as “carpe diem”. Rather, I am recognizing shared glimmers of bigger truths. Instead of fearing more changes, I see these shifts as less vulnerable and more connected to a higher plane.
There’s some groundedness in knowing that in every kitchen I have ever graced, I have danced across the tiles, including this one. I live here, now. I can take a breath, now.
How lucky am I to become even more myself, in all this change.
I’m naturally curious. Some days, I am still urged by novelty. I don’t think that’s inherently negative. If I want to try something new, just for its own sake, that’s different than needing newness. Some days, dopamine is rapid-fire, and that is exhausting. Sometimes, there is a satisfaction in just coming home. And yet other days, the new stuff is exciting.
So, I’ve come to believe that both the small and big moments are transforming me into a gentler person, with myself and others. Balance leads to transformation and action:
First, I do my best to set my schedule, as much as possible. Boundaries reinforce me-ness. I don’t need to detail everything, but I plan whim when I can. A new hike, a new recipe, a new state (as evident by my 2026 goals sheet). Second, instead of seeing life as the same thing, day in and day out, I am learning my spiritual and physical health are everything. They’re my foundation. Third, I’m okay if I get bored, even in this new career, in this new space. A new job would not (and will not) save me. Instead, I lean in. Listen first, before speaking up. And just take a moment and breathe.