Greetings from Connecticut

"Ah! There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort." -Jane Austen 


Today I was pleasantly and welcomely reminded just how beautiful the New England summer scenery is. To begin, today was one of those picturesque days. This morning the skies dawned a clear, brightly blazing blue which carried through the entire afternoon and even into this evening. As I sit here now I can see the start of the sunset- hues of pink, violet, purple and yellow are swiftly flowing across the northwest sky. The trip to the beach today was instantly refreshing and put my racing mind at ease. I wasn't exactly thrilled about my return to Cheshire after living so independently in the big metropolis that is New York for a few years. I knew I had to keep an open mind to all things that came my way, and I made sure to think positively about everything that was Cheshire. Recently, I've been reminded just how sweet home really is.

Connecticut is thought of as a quiet, quaint little state, but in truth is has so much to offer. It might not be a tourist destination. In fact many tourists probably only see I-95 or I-91 during their destinations elsewhere. If they are lucky they will at least travel on 15, or, as I discovered today, on beautiful Route 1. In my 24 years I have done fun things in Connecticut, but what was different about today was that it was perfectly timed with the direction of my current life. With everything up in the air and my anxiety kicking in from time to time about my job, my career, my future location, I could slow down the spinning wheels for a short time and focus on the beauty that is my home. I was able to pause my hard work and job applications for some sunshine in great company. A perfect day at the beach surrounded by lifelong girlfriends is always a truly genuine, special day to remember. We laughed, we reminisced over our best memories, we gave bits of advice to each other, and we certainly got out daily doses of vitamin D. Vitamin D not only makes you happy, but it feeds your brain, and today I could feel it's fuel. 

After the sun got just too hot and we decided it was time to go, we closed up shop and applied our soothing aloe before we sat in the car. Being a sticky, July summer, on I-95 in Connecticut, we knew one thing was inevitable- traffic. Beach traffic. Fighting off the fumes and sounds of the trucks and vehicles of fellow sunkissed beach-goers, we decided to take the scenic route. The drive home had suddenly become my favorite part of the entire day. We rolled the windows down and turned the music up- an excellent summer day's soundtrack of the sweet Ingrid Michaelson. We drove on the beautiful one-lane Route 1 for miles, viewing parts of Connecticut I had never seen- or even heard of. At a slower-than-highway pace but still avoiding traffic, we could really capture our surroundings. Everything we saw had the same rich, sky-blue backdrop with the sun ever shining upon us. We saw boats docked at their marinas, boats relaxing on the lakes and sound as we drove along the shore. The houses were of course beautiful- all unique and different than the next, so as to avoid the cookie cutter neighborhood standard that is all too common. We saw perfect brick school houses, pretty rod iron light posts and of course white picket fences to keep the dogs and 2.5 kids in from the road. We saw adorable shops, pizza places, ice cream parlors, and restaurants with witty names and clever combinations- Beaches and Cream ice cream parlor and Coffee and Flowers Cafe were my particular favorites. We picked out future wedding destinations at adorable inns and bed and breakfasts. We saw blooming flowers so wild and naturally wondrous. We awed over the street names. We could smell the fresh seafood and hear the laughter of the locals enjoying a peaceful Sunday dinner out with their families and friends, sitting at picnic tables with a sea of colorful umbrellas. We drove on, all pointing to something fun and different. We shared our likes and dislikes of what we saw, we continued our stories and imagined our lives in these picture perfect neighborhoods. Avoiding the bleak highway was the best decision of the weekend, and my mind and soul are thankful.

They say it's the little things that make you happy. The little joys of the sun rays, wispy white clouds, comfort of close friends, a cool breeze on a hot day, and the wind blowing through our hair while discovering new opportunities Connecticut has to offer, were the smallest and most meaningful things from the day that I will carry with me. It was overall peaceful and rejuvenating to learn of what a naturally beautiful place I am so lucky to call my home. I feel calmed and energized at the same time. I believe Connecticut is an amazing place to live and grow- and with so much to offer. So much that I am still learning and taking in. It was a great place for today's gladdened discoveries at the most appropriate time in my life, and in fact, in my life of uncertainty, one thing is for sure- home is where my heart is.