A blog by Pepetoe.

Life changes have a funny way of shaking us up, don’t they? Some we see coming, others take us completely by surprise. Recently, I’ve been navigating one of my own, with my boyfriend moving away for work… to another country. It’s only temporary, but even temporary change can feel heavy when it reshapes your daily life.

The season shift to Autumn has been reminding me that change is natural and inevitable, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Staying grounded through seasons of transition takes intention, softness, and a lot of self-compassion.

Change is Part of Growth

Change is uncomfortable – sometimes it feels like the rug has been pulled from under your feet. You’re left scrambling, trying to find the version of “normal” you once had, only to realise it doesn’t quite exist anymore. But that discomfort? It’s often proof that you’re moving forward. Growth rarely feels calm or easy. It’s messy, uncertain, and sometimes it even feels like you’re going backwards. Accepting change doesn’t mean pretending you’re okay with everything. It means allowing yourself to sit in the discomfort and recognise that life doesn’t stay still, and maybe that’s not a bad thing.

Slowing Down and Staying Present

When life feels heavy, the instinct is to run faster: fill your time, keep busy, drown out the noise. But rushing only makes the anxiety louder. Slowing down takes courage. It means noticing the little things: your morning coffee, the way the light changes in autumn, the sound of rain against your window. These moments ground you in the now, instead of pulling you into an endless loop of “what ifs.” Presence isn’t about having a perfect, mindful morning routine every day. It’s about pausing long enough to remember that this moment, right now, is enough.

Nurturing Connections (Even From Afar)

Distance can feel like a wall, especially when someone you love is far away. But connection doesn’t disappear just because miles stretch between you. In fact, nurturing relationships during times of change can feel even more meaningful. Whether it’s a voice note, a letter, or simply knowing you’re both looking at the same moon, love finds ways to reach across the distance. And connection isn’t just about romantic partners; it’s about friends, family, community. It’s about reminding yourself that you’re not walking through change alone, even if it sometimes feels like it.

Resting Instead of Rushing

Rest doesn’t mean you’re weak. It doesn’t mean you’re falling behind. It means you’re giving your body and mind space to breathe. Change is exhausting, emotionally, mentally, and physically. And often, the urge is to “keep up,” to overcompensate by doing more. But what if the bravest thing you can do is stop? Put down the endless to-do list. Take a nap. Read a book without guilt. Rest is what allows you to show up fully in the parts of life that actually matter. Without it, everything becomes heavier than it needs to be.

Don’t Count Down the Days (Living in the Present)

It’s tempting to count the days until things go back to “normal.” Until the next reunion, until the tough season passes, until the waiting is over. But when you’re constantly living for “then,” you miss “now.” Life isn’t on pause just because you’re waiting for something. These days – even the hard ones – are still your life. Noticing them, living in them, finding small joys within them is what makes the waiting bearable. Don’t count down the days. Live them.

Rediscovering Old Hobbies or Joys

Change creates space. It might not feel like it at first, but the shift in routine can actually open doors you forgot existed. Picking up old hobbies (the ones that used to light you up as a kid or teen) can be grounding in the most unexpected way. Whether it’s writing, painting, playing a sport, or simply going on walks, reconnecting with your past self feels like giving her a voice again. It’s not about being “good” at the hobby. It’s about remembering what joy feels like, and choosing to give yourself that joy again.

Letting Change Expand Your Perspective

Sometimes we get so locked into the way we thought life would look that we forget there are other ways to live, love, and grow. Change shakes up those assumptions. It forces us to see things differently, and sometimes, in hindsight, that’s a gift. What feels like loss right now might also be an opportunity to see yourself more clearly, to understand what truly matters, and to realize you’re more resilient than you give yourself credit for. Perspective doesn’t erase the pain, but it can soften it.

Showing Yourself Extra Compassion

When everything feels uncertain, it’s easy to slip into self-criticism. To think you should be handling it “better” or that you’re somehow failing because you’re struggling. But compassion is the antidote. Change is already hard, so you don’t need to make it harder by turning against yourself. Speak to yourself the way you would to a friend going through the same thing. Give yourself grace. Let the small wins count. Let the hard days exist without shame. You’re doing your best, and that is always enough.

Trusting That This Season Won’t Last Forever

It can feel endless when you’re in the middle of it. Like you’ll never find your footing again. But seasons change, always. The hardest parts of life eventually shift into softer ones. You won’t feel this way forever. Trusting in that truth, even when you can’t see it yet, helps you hold on. This isn’t your forever. It’s just right now. And one day, you’ll look back and see how strong you were for getting through it.

Xo, Pepetoe