The View Was Always Beautiful. The People Made It Home.
I have always known that where we live is more than just a neighborhood. This season of recovery has reminded me in the best possible way just how special our community truly is.
Slowing Down
Over the past several weeks, I have spent far more time at home than I ever planned. Recovering from surgery has a way of forcing you to slow down whether you want to or not, and if I am being honest, I have done my fair share of whining about it along the way.
Being laid up sounds relaxing in theory. In reality, it can start to feel a little like being confined to a very beautiful prison.
But somewhere between the frustration, the boredom, and staring out the windows far longer than usual, I began to notice something I may have been too busy to fully appreciate before.
The Beauty Around Us
The mountains.
The changing light throughout the day. The quiet mornings. The way the clouds settle into the ridges after a rainstorm.
The beauty that surrounds us here every single day is extraordinary, whether we stop long enough to notice it or not.
Recovery forced me to slow down enough to really take it in.
The People Who Make It Home
Just as importantly, I was reminded of the people who make this place so special.
Neighbors who are not simply neighbors, but friends. Friends who have checked in, stopped by to visit, shared conversations on the porch, and helped break up the monotony of recovery with companionship, laughter, and kindness.
What makes a neighborhood feel like home is not only the scenery, the houses, or even the location. It is the people who create connection within it.
The casual gatherings. The willingness to show up for one another. The small moments of friendship that quietly turn a group of houses into a true community.
Gratitude
I would have preferred learning this lesson without the surgery and orthopedic boot, but sometimes being forced to slow down gives us the opportunity to see more clearly what has been there all along.
And from my chair, looking out at these mountains, I can honestly say I feel deeply grateful for both the beauty around me and the people who make this place feel like home.
THE BROWNIES THAT MADE ME BELIEVE IN
GLUTEN-FREE BAKING
These are the gluten-free brownies I have been making for 14 years and the recipe people still ask me to bring to every gathering. Thick, gooey, deeply chocolatey, and almost impossible to believe are made with black beans and avocado.
Trust me. Just make the brownies.