Since leaving home shortly after I turned 16 and going onto making major life decisions on my own, I have this idea that I’m in control. That I can only rely on myself. That no one else understands.
That’s fine for a while… until you’re buried under the weight of it all.
When living abroad as well, it’s more important than ever to keep in touch with friends and family. Send random photos, tell funny anecdotes, be interested in their lives back home. A quick catch up can easily turn into a 5-hour Skype session and you’ll feel so much love and connection!
Sometimes I feel so alone in whatever I’m going through. But you know what I’ve discovered? Simply being OPEN, just getting all your emotions out there, the whole context of where you are and what your life looks like, whether with old friends, new friends or total strangers… there WILL be similarities in your lives. Not only similarities either! Parts of your lives will completely resemble each others! I’ve never felt so synced up with other people before.
All because I reached out in others and allowed myself to be reached.
I believe it’s because people come into your life for a reason.
The first night I met a lovely girl from Germany, after the first few hours of pleasantries, we discovered how in sync our lives are. We both left home at 16. We’re both early 20’s. We both studied Philosophy. We both dropped out of uni. We’re both in a mess. Love, relationships, sex, living in the Canaries, not sure where we’re going… CRAZY RIGHT?! We chatted and chatted for hours. I saw myself in her, and as I gave her bits of advice I realised I was saying the things I needed to hear for MYSELF.
For those abroad like me, reach out to the local community too. Find out what’s going on, meet new people. Sometimes we expats are so focused on where we’re going next, we forget the life we have right now. Find the support you need. I recently had a session with a Life Coach(!!!) and it’s surprising what simply reaching for something can bring you.
*This is part of my 2017 project to recall the lessons life throws at me so that 23 won’t just be another year like the others, but one of contemplation and growth. What have you learnt so far this year? Do you reach out enough to the people around you? Have you ever realised your life is so in sync and so resembles the life of one of your friends? Or even a total stranger’s? Do you think people really come into our lives for a reason? Or is it all random? You’ve stumbled upon my blog now- why mine and not someone else’s?!
