I realize now that I never walked enough in Raleigh. We drove everywhere. Here, I think nothing of setting out on foot to a place a mile away from our flat in San Francisco. Half the fun of going anywhere is what you discover when your eyes are open to the beauty around you.

When I was home last week, my sweet mama drove down from Asheville to spend some time with me. We walked to dinner together, enjoying the warm spring air. Before we moved, who knows how many times I passed this little cottage in my car, allowing it to blur past me as I set my sights on a destination.

That’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned since coming to the city… I’ll never be a point A to point B girl again. Life is too precious not to take time to gaze for as long as you like at little green cottages with dreamy front porches.