I thought spending time alone would give me some breakthrough, that wandering the city streets of Dublin solo would spark a feeling I had never had before. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But things in Dublin aren’t so different<\/em>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve always appreciated an errand. I followed my mom to CVS and the grocery store too many times as a child for shopping not to be engraved in my habits. When I walk down the aisles sometimes, I think about my mom, crossing things off her list one by one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We really aren’t so different<\/em>. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Theres something rewarding crossing things off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It reduces the impact of the bill when you feel you’ve been productive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And it’s hard to not reward yourself with an impulse buy or two after such a strenuous task. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In Dublin I quickly ran out of socks and was graced with the need to run an errand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A sense of purpose pulled me out of bed and into a caffe for a cup of tea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As I perused the morning streets, I realized the buzz at the beginning of the day is universal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The line of people waiting to get on the bus was just like the one at home. Silent morning workers waiting to start their day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s not so different<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the dollar store my eyes lit up for all the same things as when I’m at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Brightly colored bags of chips with interesting flavors, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cheap beauty products that I don’t need, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stationary that will sit at the bottom of my purse until I clean it out, <\/p>\n\n\n\n This dollar store was not so different<\/em>,\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not any <\/em>different than what I was used to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, prices may be lower, and items may be fresh to my eyes, but it was familiar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How could I be out of place when all of my favorite things are still in theirs? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Running errands wasn’t any different because I was in a different place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sure, the walk might have felt new, and the passersby are strangers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But in no time at all I know things wouldn’t feel different at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before I realized it, I would know the walk and the people I passed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n I often find that I cling to what I know, habits, people, interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Testing the waters, rocking the boat has never been my cup of tea. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While I won’t seek out disruption of routine, I know that when things are different, is when things happen. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you’re uncomfortable and tested is when you learn. <\/p>\n\n\n\n But after a week of testing myself the dollar store felt nice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Something far from different was what I needed to remind myself that things don’t always have to be different to feel fresh. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I don’t have to feel stuck by routine or intimidated by new, <\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether things are different, or not different at all, I know I will take it as it comes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And when worst comes to worst, I can always find home in running errands. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n -Ila van Schaik<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I thought spending time alone would give me some breakthrough, that wandering the city streets of Dublin solo would spark a feeling I had never had before. But things in Dublin aren’t so different. \u00a0 I’ve always appreciated an errand. I followed my mom to CVS and the grocery store too many times as … Continue reading Dublin Isn’t So Different<\/span>