So it’s coming up to five months since I left Australia. Having only intended to leave the country for four weeks, it’s fair to say things have not gone as I originally planned! I spent the first four weeks travelling as planned, reconnecting with a passion for travel that will never fade. I think it was that rekindling, which brought about the desire to stay a little longer than planned.
Once I committed to the decision to stay and consequently ignored my flight home, I had an overwhelming feeling that I was on the right path. A path that whilst I knew wouldn’t be easy, would take me along an exciting journey if I trusted it. Not just any journey either, a journey that may just define who I am. Suffice to say, I had pretty lofty ambitions!
So several months into the journey, it’s time for a status check. Acclimatising to life in the UK, London in particular has been more challenging than I anticipated. I’ve had my fair share of frustrations in the last few months. From dodgy letting agents, to public transport to the quality of the food and just the general behavioural differences between people in Australia and people in the UK (Aussies tend to be much more direct, forthcoming and action orientated).
It’s certainly been a testing time, character building if you will, but I’ve battled through it and since finding a good apartment, things have been steadily improving to the point where I’m now enjoying myself and I’m feeling quite settled.
I think the key take away from the past few months has been to trust in the path. Despite all the frustrations and challenges that I was encountering, I always managed to maintain a positive disposition. I think I was able to do that, because above all else I believed that I was following the right path. That belief enabled me to view everything that was coming my way, as part of the journey which was to be enjoyed and experienced.
There was uncertainty, there was self doubt and I know that in the past that would have resulted in me trying to seize control, by rushing back to my comfort zone, just like I did in 2009 when I returned to Australia. This time though my belief in the path I was on proved the difference and I’m so glad I resisted my bad habits and have finally allowed myself to go with the flow and enjoy the journey.
Long may it continue!
