a new voice.

You should meet Alex. 

That picture was taken in May of 2010 in South Carolina. It's possible that we were on our way to get ice cream and I made Alex stop to take selfies with me. But only maybe. This picture and that trip carry so much weight, history, and depth to the story of our friendship. I love it and couldn't help but share. You should also know what she looks like, cause let's be honest ... she's a babe.

Alex blogs about life and finding her true self and living outside of her box over here. She writes with an authenticity and honesty that I admire. Alex shares my love of organizing and yoga and desire to eat a lot of dessert (as evidenced in the above photo). In some ways, we are so similar yet in other ways very different, which makes us great friends. I am so excited for her to share thoughts about home. Without any more of my rambling, here's Alex ...

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I have been home in Michigan for 6 hours and I am already ready to get back on the bus to Chicago.  Being back at my parent’s house is the epitome of bittersweet.  Sweet because I enjoy the time with my family, the home cooked meals, the heart-to-hearts, and the being cared for, but bitter because of the judgement, the nosy questions, and the pressure to be someone who I’m not.  It is becoming clear to me that my primary home is now in Chicago (300 miles away from the home where I grew up).  This realization brings me to a startling conclusion: I am a grown up (pause for gasp).  While I still consider my parent’s house my home, it is a very different home than my own apartment.  It is a home that constrains me as well as a home that challenges me to grow.  It is a home that pressures me as well as a home that eases my stress.  It is a home full of love and a home full of criticism.  Regardless of the good and the bad, my parent’s house is still the home I run to when the world seems to be closing in on me.  It is also the place where I ultimately feel the most safe and the most supported. 

My chicago home is not perfect either...it is also full of oxymorons...it is full of happiness and loneliness, independence and vulnerability, and laughter and stress.  It is the place where I am most liberated and able to be my full self, but also the place where I feel most alone.  In the long run, I think having these two opposing homes is beneficial since each home offers something very different, but that does make it any easier to transition between the two.  My mission over the next three weeks is to accept my experience at my parent’s home for exactly what it is: a mixture of bitter and sweet.  I hope I am able to muddle through the negative so I can embrace the positive.  I hope I am able to take everything with a grain of salt so I don’t allow myself to be burdened.  And finally I hope I am able to continue listening to own voice even among the other (very loud) voices.  Wish me luck!

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Is your home full of opposing emotions? Is the season you're in forcing you to transition from home to home?

Oh, and just for giggles, here's a much more accurate depiction of the chaos and hilarity and ridiculousness that happened on our South Carolina trip ...  

Happy Wednesday!