Hola hola!

I am so happy to be sitting down to write to you again, especially now that my favorite season is finally here. There is something about October that makes me feel so happy. The air gets cooler, the days get cozier, and suddenly I find myself thinking about warm drinks, candles, blankets, and, of course, the fact that Christmas is getting closer. I know we still have a little while to go, but I can't help it. This time of the year just makes me happy.

I think autumn is such an interesting season because, for some people, it feels like saying goodbye to summer. The days get shorter, the trees lose their leaves, and everything seems to slow down a little. To me, autumn feels like welcoming something new, it is a different kind of beauty, a different rhythm, and a different way of enjoying the days. We might spend less time outside in the sunshine, but we get to enjoy other little things that make this season special.

And I think that is also how this October has been feeling for me. September was all about settling into my new home and getting used to a different life, but this month, I feel like I am finally starting to find my own rhythm again. I have been taking more time for myself, journaling, painting, and doing the little things that make me feel good. Nothing particularly extraordinary has happened, and I think that is exactly what I am enjoying so much. I am learning to appreciate the calm, to enjoy my own company, and to find happiness in the ordinary moments of my days.

It is funny how sometimes we get so caught up in everything that is happening around us that we forget to check in with ourselves. We keep moving from one thing to the next, filling our schedules, making plans, thinking about what we should be doing or what comes next. And before we know it, we have gone days or even weeks without really asking ourselves how we are feeling, what we need, or what would make us happy right now.

Lately, I have been trying to do a little more of that. Taking a moment to sit down with my journal, going for a walk without rushing to get somewhere, spending an afternoon painting just because I feel like it, or simply enjoying a quiet evening at home. These are such simple things, but I have noticed how much they help me feel connected to myself again. Not because I am trying to become a completely different person, but because sometimes I think we just need to make a little space to hear ourselves again.

I am also feeling particularly grateful these days. Grateful for my new home, for the people I get to share my life with, for the little routines I am building, and for having the time and space to rediscover the things that make me happy. I think there is something very special about reaching a point where you can enjoy the life you have right now, without constantly feeling like you need to change something or get somewhere else first. Of course, there are still things I want to do, places I want to visit, and dreams I want to work towards. But I am learning that I can be excited about what comes next while also being happy right here, in the middle of an ordinary Sunday, making myself a coffee or spending a little too much time choosing what to watch in the evening.

And maybe that is one of the things I love most about autumn. It reminds me that there is no need to rush through every season. The trees don't seem to mind that they look different from a few months ago. They simply change, slowly and naturally, without trying to hold on to what they looked like before. And there is so much beauty in that. Maybe we can allow ourselves to do the same, to accept that what we need changes, that our routines change, and that we might find happiness in things we didn't pay much attention to before.

That is also what inspired this month's illustration. I wanted to paint a forest, something that reminds me of those autumn walks when the ground is covered in leaves, the air feels fresh, and everything seems a little quieter. I wanted this postcard to feel like an invitation to slow down for a moment, take a deep breath, and enjoy the season we are in. Because even though forests look different throughout the year, each season has something special to offer. And maybe we don't always need to be growing in obvious ways or making big changes. Sometimes, we just need to give ourselves the time to settle, to rest, and to enjoy where we are.

So this month, I wanted to send you a little reminder to make some space for yourself, too. Maybe that means picking up a hobby you haven't had time for lately, writing down your thoughts, going for a walk, spending time with someone who makes you feel good, or simply allowing yourself to have an evening with absolutely no plans. Whatever it looks like for you, I hope you find little moments that make you feel more like yourself.

And if you are going through a season of change right now, I hope you remember that you don't need to have everything figured out. You can take your time. You can enjoy what is here while being curious about what comes next. There is no need to rush into the next chapter before you have had the chance to enjoy the one you are in.

Thank you, as always, for being part of this little corner of my life. I love that I get to share these small pieces of my days and my thoughts with you, and that somehow, through these letters, we get to know each other a little better. I hope this month's Cartita brings you a little bit of the coziness and calm that autumn brings me.

I Can't wait to write to you again! Until next month's Cartita.

With love,

Mercy