My roommate recently shared with me a piece of her Greek heritage and described the essence of our friendship using the Greek term κεφι (kefi), whose meaning effortlessly depicts the beautiful chaos of life and living: the feelings of belonging, completeness, and sheer happiness that we experience when we come across something good, something memorable. It got me thinking about my own life and the stories I want to be able to tell – what is my purpose? And, more importantly, what is my kefi?

This year I lost myself, and I chased my own shadow for months in an attempt to return to a sense of normality. I missed my mother, who lives over a thousand miles away, with an aching longing; I struggled to redefine the meaning of a home after losing the one in which I grew up; I felt restless, tempted by the need for adventure, travel and change and stifled by the routineness of spending years in the same place. I wasn’t unhappy, but I carried with me the nagging feeling that something was missing; I was haunted with a lingering nostalgia for memories I had not yet made.

But the seasons have changed. As budding spring leaves greet the late-setting sun and raindrop melodies whisper on glistening pavement, I’m breathing in the fresh air I’ve been taking for granted and I’m letting the world inspire me. I’m closing my mind to my insecurities and am starting to count the reasons that I love myself. I go for long runs, shedding my reserves with each exhilarating step, finding solace in the quiet. I push myself to notice things: the fragile dandelions sprouting tentatively under the nearing sun; the magnificence of the ocean and the quickness of the retreating tides; the warmth in my mother’s smile when I step off the plane and run to her.

And I’m starting to notice things about the people around me. I strive to learn something about every person I encounter rather than making assumptions; I challenge myself by reaching out to those I don’t know but would like to; I cherish the time I have with those that I do. We are all works in progress; we are all learning from our mistakes and hoping the stars guide us when we can’t find the path in the dark.

And maybe this is the answer: using the depths of our intuition and our never ending capacities for love to strengthen our wills, build lifelong friendships, appreciate ephemeral moments, and understand who and what we want to be. We need to put down our phones, take a break from work, and immerse ourselves in the remarkable endlessness of nature and the energy of the people around us.

I played a silly game of wiffle ball outside with new friends the other day, attempting cartwheels in the grass, using sandals and Frisbees as bases, and listening to our laughter as it reverberated around us. The sun set, and we kept playing, feeling like kids again, stopping only to turn on our car headlights so we could see in the hush of fallen night. And it was then, with smiling eyes and peaceful mind, surrounded by near-strangers who had in hours become companions, that I found clarity and contentment. The most ordinary, inconsequential moment became everything I never knew I was looking for, filling the inexplicable gap in my heart.

If you are struggling to retreat from the shadows, don’t be afraid to take the hand extended to you – friendship and shared company heals more than you’d think.