Have you ever felt like you’re living in your own life, but it feels unfamiliar? Like you’re trying to fit into a version of yourself that no longer matches who you are?

That’s exactly how I’ve been feeling. It’s not that my life is changing—it’s me. Old patterns, beliefs, or behaviors that once fit no longer do. It’s as if I’m trying to catch up with my own wants, dreams, and desires.

This feeling has been brewing for a while, but it’s unsettling. Losing someone who’s been part of my life since childhood has added layers of reflection and uncertainty. Yet I also know this discomfort isn’t just about loss—it’s part of a deeper shift.

Even the small things feel different. For years, I enjoyed a wide variety of TV shows. Now, nothing seems to fit. Instead, I’m drawn to lighter content, things I would have dismissed as ‘not deep enough’ in the past. My tastes—and maybe my priorities—are shifting.

I’ve also started and abandoned projects without knowing why. It feels like I’m searching for something but can’t quite put my finger on it. I even tried talking to my sister, thinking I was using these projects to distract myself from some unnamed struggle. I told her I’d focus on “me” instead. That’s when I realized I was trying to turn myself into a project!

All of this might sound like a privileged problem—and maybe it is. But when we feel out of sorts, it doesn’t matter whether the issues are big or small. It’s our world, and the discomfort is real.

I’m reminded of a course I used to teach on Change Management. It described the stages we all go through during transitions, from recognizing the need for change to eventually adjusting to it. That’s where I think I am now: adapting to a new status quo.

This summer was a blur—remodeling, moving a business, navigating personal ups and downs, and weathering the noise of an election year. It’s been a lot to process, and sometimes it feels like the pieces of my life are shifting faster than I can make sense of them.

So for now, I’m letting go of the need to have it all figured out. Instead of forcing clarity or answers, I’m giving myself permission to simply sit with the discomfort. Adapting to change isn’t always comfortable, but it’s part of growth. I’m learning to trust that in time, the pieces will settle, and I’ll find my footing again.