13/10/2026
One of the biggest realisations I’ve had over the past year is that so much of the discomfort I’ve felt in life has come from trying to fit into places, environments and ways of living that never quite felt right for me.
Sometimes where you come from is so deeply ingrained in who you are that building a life so different from it can feel quite jarring.
I grew up surrounded by nature, animals and the constant comings and goings of a busy family home. It’s what I’ve always known, and something I don’t think I fully appreciated until I spent so much time away from it.
When I’m not surrounded by nature, I often find myself searching for the kind of peace that only a quiet field or woodland can bring. When I’m exhausted, it’s where I feel most at ease. There’s something comforting about being somewhere that doesn’t expect anything from you.
Living with a sleep disorder has made me increasingly aware of how difficult it can be to exist in a world that doesn’t always make room for a slower pace. For a long time, I think I was trying to adapt myself to environments that weren’t necessarily suited to me, rather than considering what kind of environment would actually allow me to thrive.
Farm life is certainly not an easy way of living, and I wouldn’t want to romanticise the work involved. But growing up in that environment gave me some of the values I appreciate most about myself. A strong work ethic, certainly, but also a deep appreciation for nature, animals and the world around us.
My phone is full of photographs of the moon, sunsets and little things I’ve noticed throughout the day. I’ve always found joy in those things, but I’m beginning to understand just how important they are to my wellbeing.
I think I’m learning that life doesn’t always have to be a constant self-improvement project. That there’s value in appreciating what’s already around us, finding a pace that feels natural and accepting that, just like nature, we go through different seasons.
Finding your way back to yourself isn’t always about becoming someone new. Sometimes it’s about remembering the parts of yourself that were there all along.
