Foxy is back! She returned on Wednesday morning, hungry but healthy—praise all the deities! Her homecoming was nothing short of joyful chaos. Within hours, she was zooming around the garden, scaling the plum tree like an acrobat, headbutting me with affection, delivering love bites, and purring up a storm. She even gave me a thorough lick-down. It was pure Foxy energy, and it felt like everything was right in the world again.
In the whirlwind of her return, I didn’t have much time to process it all. Earlier in the week, my friend and I spent hours canvassing a two-mile radius around my house. We hung over 40 posters, handed out 25 flyers, and knocked on countless doors in search of her. It was exhausting, emotional work, but we were determined.
After Foxy came home, I spent the next couple of days retracing my steps to take down the posters and personally share the good news with the kind strangers who’d shown empathy and encouragement when I handed them flyers. Their smiles and genuine happiness for Foxy’s return were infectious. Every conversation felt like a little serotonin boost, and I found myself feeling joyful all over again.
What I didn’t expect was the deeper blessing Foxy’s absence would bring: an opportunity to step outside of my comfort zone and connect with my local community.
The Unexpected Growth
If you know me, you’ll know that “feeling at home” hasn’t been part of my vocabulary for over a decade. I’ve moved around a lot, and despite living here for 18 months, I still didn’t feel fully settled. But something shifted this week.
Knocking on doors, meeting fellow cat lovers, and sharing moments of connection with strangers created something I hadn’t felt in a long time—a sense of belonging. These were people I might never have spoken to otherwise. And while I’m not quite at the point of calling this town “home,” I can feel something emerging.
This experience stretched me in ways I didn’t anticipate. It made me grow. It taught me about the toleration of uncertainty (working title of an essay I’m drafting—let me know if you’d like a sneak peek!).
I’m naturally introverted, and striking up conversations with strangers isn’t something I’d usually do. But Foxy’s adventure gave me a reason to connect, and what I found was warmth, kindness, and a little spark of hope. Sometimes, growth sneaks up on you in the most unexpected ways.
Building Community, Online and Offline
This experience also reminded me of the power of community—both offline and online. Growing Neurokin Network, my online platform for neurodivergent students and graduates, is my main focus for the rest of the year. Much like my local neighborhood, building this community is an adventure. It demands new skills, new levels of vulnerability, and a willingness to embrace the unknown.
To help with the process, I’ve recently brought on two new team members (hooray!). Together, we’re navigating this wild, beautiful experiment of creating something brand new. Will my vision come to life exactly as I imagined? Or will something even better reveal itself? Who knows!
What I do know is that stepping outside my comfort zone—whether it’s knocking on doors for Foxy or building a network for neurodivergent folks—always brings blessings. The path may not look like I expect, but it’s always rich with connection, growth, and discovery.
Your Invitation
So, here’s a thought: Where in your life could stepping outside of your comfort zone bring blessings you haven’t yet imagined? What small action could you take today to connect with your community, to grow, or to open a new door?
Whether it’s knocking on literal doors or diving into a creative project, I encourage you to take that step. Growth isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always worth it.
Thank you for being part of my journey—you inspire me every day.
With love from me and a very content Foxy,
Marina XO
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