August Photo-Dump, and Thoughts about Home

I know it’s almost October, but that’s just the story my life 🤣 Always a step behind, chasing my own tail, haha. Although August brought a lot of great moments and memorable experiences, I want this August photo dump to be dedicated to my visit to Israel—a trip that, without even realizing it, was exactly what I needed to recharge.

For as long as I can remember, I knew I’d leave. I knew there was a big world out there waiting for me to explore. To make leaving easier, my brain started to focus on all the little things that annoyed me about living in Israel. And, because I like to think of myself as a positive person, it wasn’t easy. But it happened: As a grown-up, I suddenly didn’t like the beach. I didn’t like getting my feet dirty in the sand. I didn’t like how people felt so free to strike up super open and deep conversations out of nowhere. I didn’t like Friday dinners and didn’t like that everything is closed on Sabbath. I didn’t like the heat or the cold, and many many more things that this post won’t be able to include. And so, eventually, I left.

However, every time I visit, the moment I set foot on this land, I get this wave of familiarity, that feels like it laid out a welcome mat, like it was waiting just for me, and I immediately feel I’m home.

As the years pass and I live away from everything that makes me who I am, I find that with each visit I’m seeing more and more of it in a new, positive light. During this visit, I went to the beach every single day and felt sad whenever I had to leave for another adventure I’d planned. I was in awe with every sunset I saw- how it was dipping into the sea, and not (as in many other places in the world) rising from it. I indulged in the deep conversations I had with strangers in coffee shops and bookstores and took selfies with each one of them so that I’d remember these moments.

I enjoyed spending time with my dad. He is the smartest person I know and I devour everything he says with eagerness. I loved hearing him sing in the car, how he spoiled me and took me everywhere, and how he kept asking me to drive his Tesla with confidence, haha. I loved going to the gym with him, meeting his friends, and even doing the simple things like grocery shopping with him—seeing what he likes to eat, and his daily routines. Visiting the horses he rides and cares for every single day. All of this warmed my heart so much and filled all the nooks and crannies of its rooms with love. I had so much fun catching up with my younger brother and my best friend from high school. I enjoyed wearing shorts. I ate the best food on planet Earth and danced with the happiest people—people who, despite everything going on, still find reasons to smile and stay positive.

And I missed it all.