Coming Home to Myself: Rediscovering Peace and Presence in Midlife

Person standing facing a lake in winter.

Recently, I had the opportunity to get away with my family. In typical fashion, the months leading up to the trip were full of overthinking—Where should we go? How long should we stay? What’s the perfect location? After all the planning and mental gymnastics, we ultimately chose a spot not too far from home, a simple place on a lake where we could reconnect with the water we’ve been missing.

We packed up and set out hoping for rest, ease, and a break from the pressures waiting for us at home.

But my experience was not what I had envisioned.

The weather didn’t cooperate, keeping us indoors except for my mandatory outings with the dog. And the house we rented came with its own set of challenges. Even though the view was lovely, the environment itself felt off—strong chemical cleaning smells, heavy laundry fragrances, and even a persistent sewer gas odor that made it hard to settle fully. I cherished the puzzles, the games, and the cozy Christmas movies with my family, yet underneath it all, I noticed a subtle tension in my body… a gentle but constant reminder that something didn’t feel right for me.

Coming home changed everything.

The moment I walked through my own front door, I felt it: my home has truly become my sanctuary. I’ve created an environment that supports my body, calms my nervous system, and gives me space to breathe. Returning home felt like being welcomed by an old friend—familiar, comforting, deeply nurturing.

And that’s when it hit me:

I don’t have to “get away” to step away.

At any moment, I can choose to slow down, reconnect with the present, and create pockets of joy and stillness. The moments during our trip when I felt most alive weren’t because of the place—they were because of the pause. The presence. The simple, intentional being.

So here’s to finding more of those moments in our everyday lives—to stepping away without going anywhere, nourishing ourselves without more doing, and allowing ease, joy, and spaciousness to fill us up in ways nothing else can.