Imagine a future that does not yet exist, then begin living toward it.

As autumn settles in, I feel a quiet shift in more than the weather.
What once was our summer lake escape is becoming our year-round retreat. The pace feels slower, mornings arrive with days that seem shaped by intention rather than urgency.

Our social life is changing as well. We have new neighbors and new friendships that will form next season. Soup nights, flannel-shirt gatherings, casual football buffets, and lingering walks among fallen leaves remind me that community can be created at any age. Belonging continues to grow when we show up for it.

Leisure is changing, too. It is not something saved for long weekends or vacations. It is a way of living that honors presence, nature, and simple joy, a pace that steadies the spirit. This is what it feels like to design life with care, shaping our routines, our spaces, and our circles with intention. Growth in midlife feels fulfilling, community forms when we create space for connection, and leisure becomes a lifestyle instead of a reward. The next chapter unfolds one small, intentional choice at a time.

How are you reimagining your life as the seasons change?
hashtag#LifeDesignWithDarla hashtag#IntentionalLiving hashtag#EmptyNest hashtag#DesignedLife hashtag#CommunityMatters