Creating Our Nest, Again and Again
There is something profoundly beautiful about the lifelong, ever-changing nature of our nests. Through countless life-stage transitions—whether marked by additions or subtractions, joy or loss—we adapt to our evolving needs and we recreate our spaces, again and again.
I've been thinking about nests lately. A client is buying his first home, and when I asked him what this new space means to him, he said, "A retreat, a place of safety from the world." A friend recently lost her husband, and she has been refreshing and reimagining her home—transforming it into her sanctuary for solace and regeneration. And I've been re-thinking my own nest. Both of my young adult children have made their homes in other cities, and my home is now less of a bustling family hub than a place for them to visit. What does it mean for it to be my nest, my home?
Seasons of Change
Consider the many transitions we navigate through our lifetime: claiming a place of our own for the first time, sharing space with a roommate or partner, creating a nest to raise children, or establishing a home in a new city. We also face more challenging shifts—homes that our children leave, return to, and leave again; sanctuaries where we recover from illnesses and surgeries; spaces we redesign for retirement; or homes we may eventually leave to make new ones in senior living communities.
Each transition asks us to reimagine what "home" means, and these reimaginings are where the real work of creating our nest begins. Each season of life brings different needs, different dreams, different definitions of comfort and safety.
Creating a Space for Ourselves
In challenging and unsettling times, our homes become more than shelter—they become places of retreat, safety, and peace. They can provide calm and soothing spaces where we go to rest and heal, protecting us from the storms of the world. Even when we feel powerless, we retain the ability to reshape our nests to meet our current reality.
But how do we create this restorative and re-energizing space? The questions worth asking ourselves include:
What is most important to us right now?
How do our values shape our space?
How do we feel about cleanliness, orderliness, and clutter?
How do aesthetics influence our well-being?
What are our needs for privacy?
What are our needs for connection?
The Power of Intentional Choices
When we approach our homes with intention and consciousness, we allow ourselves to reevaluate and recreate spaces that truly meet our needs. These changes can be small shifts—rearranging furniture to create a better flow, adding plants for life and color, or clearing out items that no longer serve us. Highlighting collected treasures that evoke good memories, or focusing on lighting, sound, scents, and texture can all bring comfort. They can also be large transformations—major renovations, relocations, or a complete reimagining of how we use our space.
The key is recognizing that our homes, like our lives, are not static. They are living, breathing extensions of who we are and who we are becoming. I’m preparing to visit my daughter in her first apartment this week. I look forward to helping her hang artwork and seeing the ways that she is creating her nest, a place to spread her wings and fly from.
Moving Forward with Grace
Are you or a loved one feeling a loss, dealing with overwhelm, or navigating a transition? These moments of change and challenge offer us the beautiful opportunity to reimagine our nest, one that truly reflects and supports who we are today.
As Bob Dylan wrote, "Come in, she said, I'll give ya shelter from the storm." Sometimes we find shelter in the homes we create, and sometimes we find it in the community of others who understand the beautiful, ongoing work of building our nests.
My colleague Jennifer Reece, Bridges Health Coaching, and I invite you to join us for an upcoming group coaching experience: a "What Now? Circle"—a transformational and supportive six-session journey for those navigating change. Registration ends soon, and we'd love to have you join us.
No matter what you're facing, you don't have to navigate change or loss alone. If you or someone you know is seeking support during a difficult season, feel free to share this message. I am currently accepting new clients, and I invite you to reach out for a complimentary discovery session to explore how coaching might support your journey.
