June Mood: Changing Definitions

From our June Newsletter:

Recently, some things have shifted around in our lives in a way that has forced me to redefine certain standards in my life. And it’s got me thinking: what do you do when your foundational definitions for things change?

I don’t think I’m alone here, seeing it all around me unfolding for different people in different ways. Our backdoor neighbor is a brilliant 90 year old lady – she tells me about the challenge of watching your physical strength fade while your mental strength remains the same. Or, I watch my Mom empty-nest and reorient her time and efforts that have been wrapped up in raising her kids for so many years. Another friend is walking through life-altering health complications. Still others realize their belief systems are different than they used to be. 

It’s confusing when big ideas change.

A new season of life has brought on a lot of reflection for me (Sarah here!). I’ve been thinking about the tender place that it is when core preferences, important rhythms, or even core beliefs about yourself or the world start changing . . . or being forced to change. It can be scary for sure, but it’s also always kind of thrilling to realize you’re yet again in a place that is an opportunity to grow. Even though it’s hard, it’s also a good check in: what is good to shift? What have I been complacent in? What can I learn to set aside for something I care more about?

This month I dived into the concept of what do when our definitions change and some helpful things I’ve found along the way. If you want to read the full essay and check out all the fun June inspo we gathered, you can sign up for our monthly newsletter below.

So happy to have you here! We love real design and real talk over here at Design Lab.

Mood board image credits, clockwise from top left: Then Came June, unknown, Joan Fisher via Sarah Kelly Creative, Iris and Marie Press, unknown, unknown, Cobalt via Flickr, MB Art Studios via The Kitchn, unknown