A year ago we hopped the ferry and spent our first weekend on Salt Spring.  We visited schools, we checked out the rental options, we hung out and explored.

I remember every little detail of that weekend.  I remember the bad weather, how my hubby was sick the whole weekend. I remember how the car didn’t start in the ferry terminal (egads, something is stopping us) I remember being overwhelmed, excited, panicked… impatient.  We had an offer on our house, but the subjects hadn’t been removed yet.

We were in limbo

A year later, the fear has gone, but the excitement still remains.

I am still in awe of our choice, and everything that has happened over the year.  The decisions I have made, our fab holiday, rediscovering my family, launching my blog, and business. Finding myself a little bit more over the year, and each day I find myself more secure in the shoes I am wearing. More secure that the decisions we have made are the right ones. More secure in the options ahead as I explore and learn and grow.

I truly believe that if you spend your moments operating from a place of honesty and authenticity, you will find your way.

We were scared. We faced it, and kept moving forward. We didn’t know how things would work this year, but we took the chance and believed that we could make it work!

And by revisiting old memories, I see that by facing the challenges and fears and relying on my instinct and being myself, I have grown, both “up” and “out”

I have learned a lot. About me. About my industry, and about the people around me. I have stopped and listened and opened myself up to hearing things (even things I didn’t want to hear) I have taken advice, and changed. I have tried to fix bad habits, and stopped rushing.

I am growing up.

and I have opened my mind outward as well. I stepped out of my “little world” and began to see the bigger picture.  I understand better what influence is, and have met some truly amazing people. I have got an inside look at the workings of different things, and better understand my place, where I am, where I want to be, and what is possible.

But mostly, I realized that things are within our control.  No, not EVERYTHING, but many, many things. And always how we deal with things, if we become a victim or rise to the challenge.  We determine our path by watching where we step, and choosing who walks it with us.

Last year this was the weekend my husband and I started living OUR life. The one where we choose. The one where we decided to be ourselves (like our real, real, real selves) The one where we risked everything.

And you know what?
We are better off today, than 12 months ago.  The risk was worth it, more than worth it fact. We got what we risked back, plus more.

And as I drive around the island running errands, or doing my “daily” life, I am still excited, and enchanted by the opportunities of life.  That bubbley feeling you get when you are discovering a new place on holiday? That feeling is my feeling each day.

We started this journey as explorers, and that is how we will continue.

exploring, embracing and finding and loving happiness.