When Life Doesn't Go as Planned | Slow Living in Autumn

Life doesn't always go according to plan. And sometimes, the changes we least expect are the ones that teach us the most.


There's something about autumn that makes me think about the passing of time, the different seasons of life, and how much things can change without us even realizing it.

While autumn brings beautiful colours and cooler days in New Zealand, here in Northern Thailand, we're seeing a different kind of seasonal change. The rice fields are slowly turning golden, the skies are becoming bluer, and the landscape is taking on a different feel as we move into the cooler months.

Watching these little changes around me has made me reflect on some of the bigger changes in my own life.

For a long time, I found change difficult. I liked having familiar routines, knowing what to expect, and feeling that things were going according to plan. The uncertainty of what might come next often made me anxious, especially when it meant letting go of something or someone I had grown accustomed to.

But over the years, I've come to realize that so much of that worry came from trying to control a future I couldn't possibly know.

At 46, I'm also becoming more aware of how much life can change as we move through different stages. Our interests evolve, our priorities shift, relationships change, our children grow up, and sometimes we find ourselves wanting things we never thought we'd want before.

And perhaps that's not something we need to resist.

In this video, I'm sharing some personal reflections on embracing change, letting go of expectations, rediscovering old interests, and remaining open to the experiences life brings.

From spending time in nature and exploring new places to learning crochet with a friend and working on a blanket for refugees at the border, I've been reminded that there are so many ways to find meaning and enjoyment in everyday life.

We don't always need a big plan or a completely different life to discover something new. Sometimes, it's simply about making room for the things we've been putting off, trying something we've always been curious about, or looking at familiar surroundings with fresh eyes.

As John Muir once wrote, "In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks."

I think there's a lot of truth in that, not just when it comes to nature, but also in the way we approach life.

Whether you're going through a big transition, adjusting to a new stage of life, or simply wondering what the next few years might bring, I hope this video offers a gentle reminder that you don't have to have everything figured out.

Life is still unfolding. There are places we haven't seen, things we haven't tried, and parts of ourselves we haven't discovered yet.

We can keep going, stay curious, and find beauty in the season we're in.

Thank you for spending a little time with me. I hope you enjoy the video and have a lovely day or evening wherever you are.