This was my first “official” week back to normal. After returning early, work had been fairly light until now. I’ve also hit the point where I can’t put off starting my course for the next phase of my sabbatical.
It’s been a weird balance. On one hand, I’ve been indulging in the freedom—sleeping in, playing computer games, and avoiding a strict schedule. On the other hand, I’ve realized how much I thrive with some structure. So, I’m both dreading and looking forward to getting back into the flow of things.
One of the ways I’ve dragged on the last bit of freedom was to re-pot most of the plants in the apartment. It’s something I’ve been meaning to do for literally years but always assumed it’d be a very messy affair and that I’d need access to a garden or a spot outdoors. Turns out, that is not the case at all.
It was both odd and fascinating pulling the plants out from where they’ve been sitting for the past few years. Just have a look at the shape of their roots!
It was strangely fascinating to pull the plants out after all this time and see how their roots had shaped themselves to fit their pots. As I was untangling them, it struck me: these plants had grown within the confines of their containers, and their roots took the shape of whatever space they were given.
It felt like a metaphor for life. We all grow within certain boundaries, whether set by ourselves or by others, but every now and then, we need to break out of our old containers and see if a bigger space might fit us better…
It’s also been a fairly social week too. My mother-in-law was staying with us for the past few weeks but was leaving later in the week to stay with her son. As a result we ended up going out for several meals and walks that we had intended to do for ages. It’s amazing how quickly things happen when there’s a deadline! In addition to this, our good friends bought a beautiful house and invited us over for dinner last night. They’ve only just moved and already the place looks amazing so after hearing all their plans, I can’t wait to see the final version of their vision!