I've been living in Lawrence now for almost four months and finally I feel I'm beginning to settle in. I'm making new friends and diving into new experiences left and right.

I went to my first bluegrass concert on Saint Patrick's Day and listened to a band called The Calamity Cubes while the rain trickled down over all of us. I mingled, danced, laughed and lost that shy person I'd found myself sinking into.

Another hurdle in the road of my life was jumped over the other day when I dropped off some of the art I submitted to the art show of the company I work for. No turning back on that front. I'm even thinking of joining a small artist's guild in Lawrence.

I feel like I've changed so much in these last four months. But, perhaps it's just that I'm finally discovering what I really feel passionately about. Or instead of discovering, maybe it's that I'm finally embracing it?

So, it's out with the old and in with the new. Out goes the shy Layne that was barely able to offer up a hello to a stranger, or a thank you to a compliment. No more quiet Layne that was afraid to speak her mind because someone might disagree or think it was stupid.

I believe the transformation is due in part to several things, the main one being the city I live in. The art and music community here is amazing. You seriously can't help but want to dive right into your dreams here. And with such a diverse group of people there never seems to be a shortage of opinions or topics to expound on, so there is no sense in worrying about someone thinking I'm stupid. And who cares if they disagree, we are all entitled to our beliefs.

So, how about you? What changes do you need to make? What habits do you need to toss out the window? What life changes do you need to adopt?

I think at times in our lives we all have a little trash that needs to be taken out and this is my time. Will it be yours too?