Hello again! Its pretty much been the better half of a year since I wrote anything on here. I've thought about it, at least, so I'll tell myself it's the thought that counts. But somehow time slipped out from under me and here I am, with 2 days left of my abroad program in London. While there may not be a bi-weekly update on this site, I kept a journal full of memories, a camera full of pictures and wrote a bunch of songs fueled by this experience.
What a dream it has been.
I've had the chance to see more of the world in a short time than I ever have and maybe ever will. Places I never thought I'd see. Like soaking up sun at a park in Brighton, becoming a regular at a London cafe (shoutout to Wakey Wakey), strolling the hills by the coast in Lisbon, or driving through the Italian countryside and drinking the finest Prosecco on their mountains. I found inspiration around the corners and happiness in unassuming places.
Musically I feel recharged. In Nashville I was fed earfuls of talk about the next hit songs, charts and new artists. It had been my first time independently being in an environment like that and I was inexperienced and creatively shocked. Not in a bad way, just in a way.
And while hopping on that plane that was going to hurl me over the Atlantic was really scary, it gave me space and a lot of freedom I haven't had before. In this space I was able to reflect on some of the changes that have been going on in my life over my past few years that the pace of my normal life doesn't allow me to think about often. Things I didn't even realize I felt or thought surfaced themselves in songs and I had the space to realize them. The songs that I wrote here helped me settle into a new voice that I didn't have before. With those new songs and voice I found new confidence to take back to New Orleans, then Nashville, or wherever the world takes me and tackle things. And hopefully I can tackle things now as my own person, not as someone so scared they couldn't fully try.
I'm 100x beyond thankful for this experience. For all the ups and downs because studying abroad isn't perfect like Instagram wants you to think. For the friends, the memories, the journeys, the songs, the classes and for an overwhelming feeling of peace and contentment that I hope sticks around for quite some time.