I have a week of Prague officially under my belt, and I am glad to be back in a city! But this story isn't about Prague...it's about getting TO Prague. During the final few weeks of Croatia I finally remembered where all my things belonged. I could successfully navigate to most places without using Google maps. I felt pretty good about the routine I established to help me stay healthy, happy, and grounded. I was sure I was set up for success for the next city.

Then the Remote Year transition happened.

The 72-hour period was packed with emotional farewells to a special city full of remarkable people, packing life back into a bag, and then the buzz starts to set in for a new city, apartment, and roommate. It's bittersweet, exciting, and overwhelming all at the same time. Despite feeling like I mastered figuring out my routine in Croatia I wasn't prepared for the mental wreck that would come with transition weekend. Within my first 48-hours in Prague I felt like I was starting all over again as I did in month one except this time I was utterly exhausted. On my first Sunday I was focused on quickly unpacking so I could finish up prepping for a big [work] presentation I had on Monday. I didn't have the mind share to figure out the lay of the land, decipher the public transportation routes, identify the nearest grocery stores, research a new gym, and tour the new offices.

I went into Remote Year fully knowing exactly what I needed to create good routines, and stay mindful of what fills me up or drains me. I even wrote a dedicated post to this very topic! I was so confused on why this was so hard. Thankfully this lifestyle, and environment is very conducive to tapping into the inner-you to seek the answers. It wasn't about lack of self-care or routine. Transition weekend made me hyper focused on the micro-shifts of change that we tend to look past in our day-to-day.

Our lives are continuous cycles of change. Where there are beginnings usually means there are also endings whether big, or small. Moving to a new city, and saying bye to an old one. Building new relationships and letting go of the ones that no longer serve you. Making healthy decisions, and forgoing unhealthy decisions. There is always starting something, and letting go of something else. These are the fundamental turning points to the evolutionary journey. The concentrated rhythms of beginnings, and endings with a hint of extra mindfulness through the Remote Year lens have made me more aware of the need to continually find ways to better adjust to change, and create more flexibility. Most importantly it's critical to recognize that this process never ends. Our mind, and body's complex inertia is important for maintaining equilibrium, but when you can better adjust to change you can embrace the crossroads of your journey which casts a beautiful light on the stops and starts. Transition weekend taught me to:

Be Open- sometimes you may not be ready for something new, but when it is time... it is time so be curious and kind.

Hit Pause- experience the gratitude of something coming to an end to help you recognize the feelings that are driving you towards the start of something fresh.

Take Notice- we are constantly adjusting in our everyday lives, so acknowledge the little shifts and it will help you navigate the bigger shifts.

Adopt the beginner's mind- approach life without assumptions, or preconceptions. Revert from doing new things the old way.

Find the Bright Spots- don't focus on the problems. Find the flashes of success and make them brighter to spark the hope that change is possible.

Don't resist the change- be willing to say hello, and goodbye where it is due.

It took a few days for me to maneuver through the transition & "settle" back in again. As I stepped foot into my new apartment in Prague I truly felt like I was coming home. Change happens. Trust the magic of new beginnings, and let the unknown excite you.