It’s the start of month three on my year-long adventure and I thought I’d reflect on the journey so far, what I’ve learned, what’s been challenging, what I’m looking forward to.
I’ve gotten pretty good at packing and unpacking my life, finding the nearest grocery store, figuring out the public transportation system and converting local currency. I join a walking tour or take a hop on/hop off bus first thing in a new city to get my bearings. I notice landmarks near my apartment so I can find my way home.
I’ve learned to live with strangers, who are becoming friends, and I’ve learned to operate a dishwasher, washing machine and oven in three foreign languages. I’ve come to appreciate line drying my clothes, opening the windows to cool down the house and using church bells to tell time.
I miss driving. I love to drive and have rented vehicles in each country so far but still miss the freedom of having your own wheels. I’m trying to appreciate the beauty of walking and taking in the sights but can’t help feeling I could accomplish so much more.
Adjusting to a slower pace of life is something I haven’t mastered yet. I see so many inefficiencies and marvel that everyone is okay with something taking two months to complete when it could be done in two days. Maybe this is something I’m here to learn – not everything needs to be done quickly, sometimes it’s okay to go slow?
My biggest challenge remains adapting from employee to entrepreneur. It’s exciting and liberating to be in control of your life, of deciding when you wake up and what your day looks like.
But it’s also scary and overwhelming to figure out what you want and how to get there. The first two months I joyously woke up anytime I liked and did whatever I wanted but like so many things in like, there needs to be balance.
Month three I’ve implemented a bit of structure back into my day. I set my alarm for 8am (which is much later than my usual 6am back home) so it’s a balance between forcing myself to get up too early and feeling like I slept away the morning. I usually wake up before the alarm but it’s there as a backup system.
I’ve also scheduled time each morning for meditation and yoga. This routine has always worked well for me and somehow in all the chaos I lost sight of it. Starting the day in a way that feels good to me helps the rest of the day flow how I want.
I’m still learning to embrace the uncertainty of where my next paycheque is coming from. I’ve always felt entrepreneurial and wanted to have my own business but wasn’t really sure what that looked like. Having a year away from work to sort it out is a gift and I’m trying to trust the process that everything will unfold exactly as it’s meant to. For someone who likes to be in control, this is a tough lesson and requires daily reminders!
It’s still easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day of figuring out what to do, where to go, who to see and suddenly you’re sitting here at month three and realizing the whole year could fly by without accomplishing what you set out to do!
Ahhh, the balance of planning and being spontaneous. A constant crossroads in my life.
Some mornings I wake up and have to remind myself where I am (Portugal!) and what an amazing adventure I’m on. I know it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I don’t want to waste it.
I don’t want to spend a minute worrying about the small things (like landing another contract), or worrying about getting in shape (it’s happening naturally climbing all these hills), or worrying about what I’m missing back home (my friends and family love me and are cheering me on).
I want to make the most of this opportunity and look back knowing that I gave it my all – that I found a way to be true to myself (when it’s so easy to get pulled into what others are doing), that I took care of myself (even if it means saying “no” to other things I want), and that I’m living a life I love (and that it’s okay to define what that means as I go along).
I’m here, in this moment, doing something I’ve always dreamed about, something so far from the ordinary that I still wonder if it’s real!
It’s month three and I’m refocused, looking at the end game – where do I want to be in March 2018? How do I want my life to look? Who have I become?
I’m excited to share these answers as I slowly discover them myself!
At age 16 I lived in France for three months with a family and went to school. I remember the two hour long lunches at home with a meal made from scratch by the mother. After we ate we would sit and talk over an espresso. I would go back to school rested and satisfied with four more hours of class till it was time to come home again at 6 pm. Long days by our standards but it was a very easy way to live.
In Nova Scotia, everyone lined dried their clothes and no one had air conditioning so we all opened our windows to cool down the house, both of which were easy because there was a constant breeze. Many people kept gardens and even a farm animal to feed their families over the summer and winter months. Many women made homemade bread every day.
Sometimes everything we need to look at our life differently is in another country, but sometimes it is in our own backyard. xoxo
Thanks Laura! As always, I appreciate your perspective. I am definitely appreciating so many things about my life back home and am looking forward to weaving the two together. xoxo
A good refocus is always necessary in life. It’s very easy to lose that focus in any circumstance. I’m glad you found it and hope that you succeed in what your setting out to do. It’s an amazing journey and I’m loving watching you go through it. PS, I miss my neighbor! 🙂
Thanks Kelly – I miss you too! The journey is amazing and much harder in ways I didn’t expect – but all good. xo
Michelle I am enjoying your updates very much. Please tell me that you have tried and hopefully enjoyed the Por? Best in the world.
We are off to Costa Blanca in 2 weeks and I will look forward with interest to your updates. Be safe
PS-dry our laundry every day outdoors in Spain. We love it
Thanks Vic! Yes, I have tried the Port and it’s amazing! Our guide in Sintra pulled the jeep over and poured us a glass of Port, saying we simply had to sip Port while looking at the monuments. He was right – it definitely adds to the experience. I haven’t got to Porto yet (came down with a nasty cold) but hoping to get up there in the next week. Safe travels!
Michelle, I’ve just finished binge reading your blog and am caught up on your past couple of months. What you’ve experienced already sounds absolutely amazing and I’m already looking forward to your next post. In between contracts, you should consider writing the Great Canadian Novel….who knows maybe about an adventurous spirit who takes the opportunity of a lifetime and steps out of her life for a year. It would be a great read.
Awwwhhh, thanks Leslie – I appreciate your support! I’ve always wanted to write a book – perhaps now is the perfect time! Thanks for the encouragement 🙂