Reflecting Over the Year: Uncertainty, Enjoying the Small Things, and Moving to the UK!

It’s quite interesting when you start the year in one place, and end it in another… literally. This past year, I moved from the US to the UK to study at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. That was the big exciting thing of this year, but so many experiences taught me lessons this past year.

Today we are having a chill chat about the past year. I have learned some lessons that I want to share, and I hope you can reflect with me.

1. Uncertainty is necessary for amazing things

SO MUCH has been uncertain this past year. Finding a flat, putting everything together for music school, doing auditions for different scholarships… it has been full of uncertainty.

But I learned that if I sit with that uncertainty rather than running from it, some amazing things have come out of it, which has really helped me achieve my goals.

When I was looking for a flat, the uncomfortable uncertain feeling was definitely there. I wanted to make it go away, so I thought about taking an easier flat, but I decided to hold my nerve, and after sitting with uncertainty, a better situated flat came along, and I’m so glad I sat with uncertainty.

I challenge you to, when you feel uncertain about something, sit in that feeling. It might be uncomfortable, but it can turn into such growth.

2. Enjoying the now, rather than being stressed about the future

This is HARD. Literally it is an ongoing thing.

Before I moved to the UK, I knew that I would miss people in the US, and when I was with them, I kept thinking “in x number of weeks, I will be so far away.” And that was stealing my joy in that moment.

I decided to try my hardest to stay in the moment. Sometimes it was harder, but I didn’t steal that joy as much, and now I am so glad that I stayed in the moment.

Romanticise your everyday

This is a great way to stay in the moment. Your walk to school or work? Notice the birds in the trees, or the sunrise.

There were a lot of days this past year that were stressful, and the stresses can easily make the whole day feel dull. I have found that if I decide to pause and notice the small beautiful things, it gives me so much joy.

Those are my top 3 takeaways from this past year. I wish you a very happy new year full of musical adventures!

All my best,

Eleanor