Oh my.

Already 50 posts in our new life.

Plus the 40 something from our old life . . .

Time for some reflection, I think,
especially since I am currently away & lounging in the sunshine!

1. I look back to the beginning of our journey and I can’t believe how scared I was. I don’t feel like that person anymore. What I thought I would miss, what I imagined I was giving up . . .  well, I don’t, and I didn’t.  If I learned anything from doing this is to face your fears, and then embrace them. That is absolutely the best way to smother them into non-existence.

2. Holy crap, we knew nothing about this island when we moved here. . .  nothing! We had instincts (which, thankfully, turned out to be correct) but we knew no one, and nothing . . . I am still amazed and shocked (and sometimes confused) that we got here, found a home and it is all working out as well as it is. Very strange . . . nervy in fact (or just stupid, ask me in another 6 months)

3. As I thought, Hubby is a happier dude (in some ways) after leaving his work behind.  The relief he feels about being where he is and doing what he is doing now vs then is huge! But . . . I have also realized that part of his dissatisfaction with work was something he (ok, maybe we) created and that we still have a long way to go to find our version of success.

4. I am still okay with having left our old home, and left our community behind. Sure I miss people, but it is usually for little moments. And, we are building a community here (which deep down I knew we would do) Driving by our old house a few weeks ago was even ok. . . it wasn’t ours anymore and I love the little emails back and forth with the new owners. I am excited for them to love the house and I feel great about our decision in moving on.

5. Despite the fears of starting fresh here, and the nervousness of meeting new people, I am a better, stronger person for it.  I feel more comfortable in being authentic, and I am a more independent person these days.  I feel that whatever is ahead of us, be it staying here or moving on, I can handle it. The world has really opened up to me. . . and best of all, I know my kids can handle it too. They have proven themselves to be amazing people during this journey.

6. My kids. They are better siblings to each other. They play together more, have less distractions from the chaos of our “other life” and are finally present for my husband and I. I feel like we are a better family here.  And this, above everything is, is the best thing.

I hope you take a moment to start at the beginning as well, read through the posts and hopefully become inspired.  I don’t regret a single thing, and I am so proud of my family for doing this . . . and I am mostly, desperately and excitedly anticipating what is to come…

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