I currently find myself circling back to where it all began: In London, perusing the window displays at Fortnum & Mason, delighting in the Hippos at the British Museum and just soaking up the old country, where the people dress funny and the humour is dry. So much stuff has happened in these past few years, but like the London Underground, life continues, moves and adapts.
For those of you new to my blog, four years ago, I threw caution to the wind by quitting my job, giving away my earthly possessions and hitting the road in search of all those blatantly wishy-washy things that newly-grads want to find. Big, broad and overarching concepts such as self-ness, the meaning of life and the wonders of the Universe. (I roll my eyes even thinking about it now).
I'm happy to report that although I don't have all the answers, I've discovered some pretty neat things... Of which I'm still building on and learning from. I've listed the über big ones below for your dissection. But for now, at least the next two weeks, I'ma gonna enjoy walks along the river, tea and scones, nights and the theatre and the company of incredible people here, with big hearts and open arms.
If you don't know what you want, it's probably time to appreciate what you have.
This took awhile to sink in, but I'm finally getting it. If its cold outside, I'm grateful at at least it's not raining. If I'm unsure about living in Hong Kong, thank goodness I have wonderful friends who listen (ad nauseum) about my contemplations. If I have to choose between mango sticky rice and green tea ice cream, I solve the crises by ordering both (and then sharing). Just by shifting my approach to my reactions, I've become surprisingly happier, easier to be around and quite frankly, joyful.
How you feel is more important than what you think.
I think, therefore I am (so unhappy). I have a little, miserable thinking part of my brain that looooooves to over-analyse, contemplate and strategize my life. So I allow it only to make-believe and day-dream positive stories, and make a concious effort to stamp out any negative thinking. Try it for 15 minutes, you'll be both amazed and horrified by the tantrums your mind throws. The sooner you get that thinker under control, the better. On the flip side, I'm very aware of how I feeeel around people and places. You know when you're feeling like the energy is being sucked out of you? Run my friend, run. If you feel warm and fuzzy, call them back, return to that space, rinse and repeat, repeat, repeat.
Dream big. Have faith.
I did some pretty crazy things in the past four years. I quit my job and travelled. I moved to Indonesia to work, which didn't work out the way I wanted. I met someone and moved to another country, that didn't work out either. But those things led me to starting my own company, which is something I love and cherish today. Living in Hong Kong, I met the most incredible women who are now my best friends. I have a working, loving relationship with my family. I feel, for the first time in my life, like I'm getting somewhere. As Danie says, you have to go out on a limb - that's where the fruit is.
What is meant for you, won't pass you by
I used to think in terms of opportunity cost, which in short, is a horrible way to live. Dwelling on the what-ifs and other possibilities stopped me from enjoying what was right now, right here. So I have faith that what is meant for me in my life, won't pass me by... So I can stop worrying about if I'm "missing out". Because honestly, if it's important, it'll happen. Guaranteed.
