The Week I Finally Came Up for Air
This week was more social than I’ve been in a long while. And maybe that’s what made it feel so good—unexpected and easy, like remembering an old habit you’d forgotten you loved.
It started last Saturday with a shoot at home with Ashtynn Bree Photography. I had asked for some headshots—something playful for my site and social—but what unfolded was three hours of experimenting and laughing, turning corners of my house into little sets. I can’t wait to share the photos. More than that, it reminded me how good it feels to create something just for fun.
Sunday brought one of those full-circle moments: a former student from youth group came over. She’s heading into her senior year, and we caught up on everything—ACTs, friends, figuring out what comes next. I was reminded of how much life used to revolve around school, and how strange it is when it no longer does. And also—how friendship at any age takes effort. Being able to listen and just be there for someone felt grounding.
Monday was dinner at Soho Social with Daniel and Emma. As we walked in, a girl was passing out small notes—just little encouragements. Mine said, “You have great style.” I kept it. The night was full of those fast-moving, back-and-forth conversations where you forget to check your phone, and you leave with that buzzy feeling that comes from being with the right people.
Tuesday was one of my favorite nights. The whole crew came over for “Bring Your Own Dinner.” We sat on the porch, the air surprisingly cool, played games, and stayed out until it was nearly dark. Afterwards we wandered to Jeni’s for ice cream, which was packed for a Tuesday. There was this moment, sitting there with friends mid-week, when I realized how rare this has been for me lately—simple, fun nights just for the sake of it. I’ve been working so much, or spending evenings alone, that I’d almost forgotten how much I missed this.
Wednesday, I finally went to Golden Age Wine Garden with Lindsey Giglio—my first visit. It felt like a little pocket of Europe tucked into Birmingham. Beautiful space, good wine, and conversation that was both easy and honest. One of those nights where you’re glad you said yes.
Thursday, Taylor and I went for a long walk and talked about life the way you do when you’re moving, not sitting across from each other—somehow the conversation always goes deeper that way.
And by Friday, we kept our new tradition going: dinner at Freddy’s in Highland Park, our standing weekly catch-up. We somehow end up talking about everything—even ChatGPT prompts made an appearance. It’s become one of those friendships where you leave the conversation feeling a little more steady.
Looking back, I know I’ve spent the last few months a bit withdrawn. I’ve been working, trying to keep my head above water, dealing with waves of burnout and a touch of depression. It’s easy to isolate when you get into that rhythm. But this week felt like a shift. A reminder that life is meant to be shared. And that joy often comes in ordinary ways—porch dinners, long walks, random ice cream runs.
I’m hoping this summer brings more of that. More evenings out. More creative moments. More space to breathe and be.
Because sometimes, all it takes is one good week to remember what you’ve been missing.